She saw him. He seemed to be hiding in the shadow of the enormous Weeping Willow in the far corner of the cemetery. Maybe he was a grounds keeper trying not to disturb her obvious grief. Maybe he was keeping tryst with grief of his own. She had been there all afternoon. If she left it would all become too much for her, too real. There was no way he could be dead. Last week he had been teaching her to surf and smothering her with promises of tomorrow. All the things that they were going to do now, now that they were back together. They had wasted so much time being angry. No, wait, she had wasted too much time being angry. Being afraid of what giving into what her heart was pushing her to do meant. She knew that when she finally, truly let Logan Echolls into her heart it would be forever. Why hadn't she realized it sooner? He had loved her. He had protected her. He had sheltered her. He had done everything within his power to keep her safe. Everything, including die.

The funeral had been at 1:00pm that afternoon. Dick had stayed with her. Good old Dick, Why didn't she like Dick again? They were Logan's only real family at this point. He had stayed with her, held her hand, cried with her until the pain was too unbearable for him and he had to leave. Had to go find a bar and drink his sorrows away, numb himself to the whole he now had in his chest. Dick Cassblancas was now all alone in the world and he felt it keenly, "You going to be ok without me?" Dick managed to choke out between tearful sobs.

"I think we'll be fine," she rubbed her still tiny belly.

"I've got my phone if you need me. I can't be here anymore. I…"

"I know," she forced a smile.

"You coming home tonight? Or going to your dad's?"

Veronica hadn't thought about it. Logan and Dick had purchased a beach house together a year earlier when they had both gotten sick of hotel living. She had moved in with them shortly after. Her dad had moved in with Alicia Fennel and she felt so out of place in their house now. Logan was home, "No, I'll come home. Don't worry."

"It's my job to worry… now anyway…" Dick ran his fingers over the top of the tombstone, "I'll have security come back for you."

"I'll call my dad. The sherriff is just as safe right?" She was trying to make Dick feel better.

"Ok," he forced a smile, "I'll be home soon. Don't stay too long, please."

"You sound like Log…" she stopped herself, "thanks Dick. I won't. I just can't seem to make my feet walk away."

She didn't know how long she had stood there, staring at the marker. Logan Echolls. She traced his name over and over again with her finger. There had been no one else to burry him. Just her and the merry band of misfits. Mac…Dick…Wallace…even Weevil…and of course Trina- Trina had made the trip, brought the press corps with her of course. She had let Veronica make all the plans but she had come-that's what mattered. They had done their best. Of course the service had been packed. All of his parent's business associates, their so-called friends. The paparazzi were calling it the Echolls' family curse. She was sure Trina's picture would be all over TMZ and the tabloids- The last Echolls. Trina was loving the spotlight, as usual.

They had finally graduated from Hearst. They were finally grown ups. Mac had taken a Job in Washington, with some super secret sect of the government. Wallace was headed back to Africa to build bridges or something… she didn't remember. Dick was surfing- because what else do California billionaires do with their time? And despite several job offers from the likes of the FBI and the local sherriff's office, Logan had convinced Veronica to take it easy for awhile. To just be with him. Of course, Veronica had found out she was pregnant a few weeks ago. Logan had known, Thank God for small favors. He had been so excited at the prospect of being a father and so afraid. Had made an appointment with a realtor and promised her the house of her dreams, anywhere she wanted-so long as it was far away from Neptune. Gorya Sorokin had attempted to make good on his threats toward Logan several times after their freshman year at Hearst College. Logan had been smart, had hired security. Stayed under the radar. When he had found out she was pregnant Logan made Veronica move to Tijuana with him, just until they figured everything out. She liked Mexico and they were happy there. So happy. That is until one of Gorya's thugs had caught up with them.

Dick had just left and the sun had set, who knows when, and the man that had been patiently waiting under the weeping willow approached her, "Veronica?"

She looked up, "You," she tried to run but he was quick, grabbing her arm, "let me go! HELP!" Dick's car was out of sight and she had left her bag in the car, she was regretting that now, who brings a taser to a funeral?

"Calm down," he held his hand over her mouth, "we are alone. No one will hear you anyway." He slowly removed his hand.

"You killed Logan!" she screamed.

"No, well yes… let me explain…but not here. Come with me," he was forcing her toward a nondescript black car with tinted windows that had been parked near the Willow tree. Carefully her guided her into the backseat, "Child locks," he smiled as he pointed to the door.

In and instant he was sitting in the drivers seat, How'd he do that so fast? Did I pass out?

"My name is Mick St. John. I am a private investigator based in Los Angeles," his tone was calming, "I was asked to come pick you up."

"You killed Logan," she couldn't think of anything else to say. She had been there. She had seen a man, this man attack and murder Logan, her Logan.

"No…well… yes…it's all going to make sense soon. I promise. And for the record, you weren;t supposed to be home that day."

She wasn't. She had forgotten she was supposed to be in San Diego with Wallace and Mac having a day of fun before they headed off to their new jobs. Her quick wit was coming back to her, "oh do explain."

"Look I did kill Logan Echolls but not Josef Kostan."

"Who's Josef Kostan?" the fear of her abduction was wearing off and she was getting angry now. If only I had my bag…her hand brushed something on the seat next to her and she realized it was her messenger back.

"Don't even think about it," Mick was holding her taser in his hand, "Josef warned me. And though it really wouldn't do much in the way of stopping me, it would sure hurt like hell."

"Who are you?" The fear was creeping back in.

"I told you…"

"Yea yea, Mick St. John. But who are you really? And why do I care about Josef Kostan?"

"Because Josef Kostan IS Logan Echolls."

She gasped, "He's not dead?"

"No."

"Then what…." it was all too much for her tiny pregnant body to absorb and she passed out across the backseat of his car.

"Well, that will make the drive easier," He smiled.