A/N - Happy New Years! May this year bring you a better year than the dumpster fire known as 2020. Thank you all for continuing to read my stories and for all the kind comments. They are truly appreciated.

And to my steadfast beta, His_Beautiful_Girl, you are amazing and you have made my year brighter. I'm glad we met. Thank you.

December 31, 2010

I've kept my word, coming to Central Park and freezing my ass off every night this week, waiting for Veronica. Tonight is the last night. If she doesn't show, then I'm going to have to give up.

Please let her show tonight. Snow starts falling on the city, and I don't know whether to take it as a good sign or bad.

Despite it still being the holiday season, I've kept myself pretty busy. Too busy to think about the notebook still sitting where Wallace left it on my coffee table on Sunday.

It's New Year's Eve in New York, which means tons of tourists and a quiet night in. There's no way I'm going anywhere near Times Square and that kind of craziness. It looks fun on TV but the reality is that you stand on the street in the cold for hours, penned in like animals and most of the time you can't even see the ball or do more than hear the bands they have playing. Much better to watch the whole thing from the comfort of my own couch, with a couple of good friends.

Except that my good friends have dates tonight, so it's just me all alone again with that damn notebook. Even Mac tried to get me to read it, but I have remained steadfast in my determination to not give him a chance.

Giving the notebook a hard stare, I wander into the kitchen to find something to eat. Unfortunately, neither Mac nor I have had time to go grocery shopping this week, so the fridge is pretty bare. It's a little after ten, most people will already be at their New Year's festivities, so it should be safe to pop down to the corner bodega and pick up a few supplies for the night.

I throw on one of the outfits I bought the other day after my Bergdorf's shopping trip. That's one thing positive out of this total mess, I finally feel comfortable dressing like me again and not a schlumpy grandma. A pair of low-rise jeans, striped long sleeve shirt and doc martens complete my look. I'd wear the new leather jacket I bought as well, except it's too cold for anything but my big puffy parka.

I'm pursuing the aisles when a familiar voice interrupts my mental debate over cool ranch or nacho cheese Doritos.

Dick Casablancas stands there holding a case of beer, a huge smile on his face.

"Ronnie. We keep bumping into each other."

"It's a smaller city than most people think." He's so goofy, I can't help the smile on my face.

"Or maybe it's fate's way of telling us we should hang out." He gives me a lascivious smirk that somehow seems wrong on his face. It reminds me of the one on Logan's face the other night, but then it was sexy as all fuck and made me want to kiss him until we were breathless.

"I don't think that's the way things work." I shake my head sadly, trying to dislodge the thoughts of Logan.

"Is that why you're leaving my boy hanging?" My eyes widen in confusion. "He's been hanging out in the cold every night this week, waiting for you. Gives new meaning to the words blue balls."

Dick laughs uproariously at his own joke while I frown. Logan is waiting for me?

"What are you talking about Dick?" Now it's his turn to look confused. It seems a more natural look for his face.

"Logan. He's waiting at Central Park by the carriages for you. Although I guess tonight's the last night. Pity, you and he could have been good together. He reminds me of you sometimes. Probably why we became such good friends when he moved to Neptune after you left." There's a hint of bitterness there, and I feel a momentary twinge of guilt for not trying to keep in touch more. But fuck, I was only eleven.

My mind is swirling with this information. Logan must have said something in the notebook about it. Suddenly, food is the last thing that I want, I need to go home.

"I'm sorry Dick, I really want to catch up, but maybe another time?" I give him a brief wave as I run out of the store, leaving my basket of goodies on the ground.

In the apartment, I take a deep breath to calm my thudding heart. The notebook is still there. Dick said Logan was waiting for me. Would a guy who was just a player be doing that if it wasn't something more to him.

Only one way to find out. Cowboy up, Mars. I snatch the notebook off the coffee table and quickly read his words. I sit heavily on the couch.

A mistake. He didn't kiss that girl; she kissed him. And he is waiting for me.

He asked me to give him another chance. Do I dare?

A glance at the clock shows that it's already eleven. There's no way to get a cab, not tonight, and walking to Central Park will take me almost an hour.

I'm rushing out the door before I even register that I've decided. All I can think is: I need to get to him.

It's ten to midnight. The carriage drivers are getting ready to pack it up for the night, casting sympathetic glances my way. Hanging out here all week, they've all heard my story of the girl I only know through her words, but how I'm sure I'm in love with her.

It looks like she won't show. I swallow back the tears. I tried my best. It just wasn't meant to be, I guess. Except it is, I know it is!

Freezing and despairing, I just want to go back to my apartment, toast the new year. Maybe Dick has the right idea after all, just staying drunk and avoiding all this pain. I shove my hands in my pockets and glance one more time at the park.

Muttering a goodbye to the drivers closest to me, I make my feet start the walk towards home.

"Logan." The yell of my name stops me in my tracks. "Logan, wait. It's not midnight yet, goddamn it!"

I'm afraid to turn around, afraid that I've finally cracked, and this is all a delusion. A tiny hand on my arm sends jolts of electricity through me. I inhale deeply, breathing in the scent of marshmallow and promises.

"Logan?" Her voice is thick with emotion and I finally turn towards her. The beauty from the party stands in front of me, her hand still on my arm, tears welling up in her gorgeous sapphire blue eyes.

A shy smile graces her face and I feel my mouth smiling in return.

"Veronica."

"I'm sorry I'm late. I just…" I don't need explanations, I get it. All I need right now is her.

I pull her into my arms, my gaze fixed on hers. She leans up on her tiptoes and I lean down, our lips touching tentatively at first. The fire between us ignites, and the kiss becomes deeper, my hands roaming over her back, trying to get as close to her as possible.

When my hands roam down to her ass, she jumps up, wrapping her legs around my waist as I catch her more securely in my arms. I twirl us, trying to find something to anchor us against. I lean her against a tree, never letting my lips leave hers.

We finally pause for air, our chests heaving as we gaze into each other's eyes.

I reach up to tuck a strand of her hair behind her ear.

Cheers erupt around the city, fireworks go off as I lean in to capture her lips again.

"Happy New Year, Veronica." I whisper the words against her lips.

"Happy New Year, Logan."