Present Day
"Remind me again how I let you talk me into letting you wear a tuxedo as my best woman? You know you're not supposed to upstage the groom right? I'm pretty sure that's a rule." Wallace said admiring V as they stood getting the final alterations done to their wedding attire.
"I'm pretty sure the rule is you're not supposed to upstage the bride, no one ever said anything about upstaging the groom." She smiled stepping down from the platform.
After changing, the pair thanked the ladies who were tending to them and exited the tuxedo shop. They drive to the local park and stop at a food truck to grab a bite to eat. After grabbing lunch they sat in the bed of Wallace's pickup and ate. While doing so Veronica noticed Wallace was pretty quiet.
"Talk to me little brother, what's on your mind?" Veronica asked curiously.
"I'm about to be a married man." Wallace spoke.
"And it's finally sinking in that your playboy lifestyle must come to an end. Not quite ready to give up that little black book?" She smiled.
"A woman like Kara is worth more than any phone number in that book. Which I gave up after me and Kara's second date by the way." He laughed.
"I guess it's just...scary. Like committing your entire life to someone. I haven't really been exposed to long and healthy marriages in my life. Most of them just go wrong and I can't shake the thought of my marriage failing as well. Pretty lame right." Wallace confesses.
"Not lame at all actually, you're getting married in two weeks. It's normal to feel this way. As you know I'm the least qualified expert on love but I see it whenever you and Kara are together. The way your face lights up whenever someone mentions Kara says it all. See, there you go right now with that goofy grin." Veronica says pointing out the grin on Wallace's face.
"What can I say, I love her."
"Well I would hope so, this wedding cost you a fortune. She better be the one, and she better treat you right. I'd hate to have to break out ole sparky, if she broke your heart." V said half jokingly referring to her taser.
"I think we'll be good. No need for ole sparky to come out of retirement. But, speaking of "the one"...any love life updates?" Wallace asked fishing for answers.
Veronica didn't know if she should just spill it about her feelings for Weevil or keep it to herself. She didn't want to jinx it by saying it out loud, already fearing it won't work out between them.
"Um, nothing new really. Besides this is Neptune, I doubt there is anyone good here for me anyway." She nervously laughed.
"You never know V, the one for you could be closer than you think. I have to, uh call Kara about the fitting. Give me a sec then we'll go." Wallace said a little suspiciously getting up to walk away. Which caused Veronica to wear a confused look.
She hops off the truck and closes it up. When turning around she literally walks into a shirtless Weevil.
"Jesus Christ!" She says letting out a small scream. "You were this close to getting clubbed." She adds hitting him on the shoulder.
"My bad V." He laughs using the towel in his pocket to wipe his face of sweat.
"How's my favorite jailbird? And wait, why are you shirtless?" She asked admiring his body which was covered in various art pieces.
It had been a few days since she bailed him out of jail.
"Doing his best to stay free." Weevil says flashing a bright smile noticing the blonde checking him out.
"And the shirtless part?"
"Oh that. Well, there's this charity run that the American Heart Association is putting on and well you know, I thought I'd do my part. But man, this cardio thing is kicking my ass on account of my-"
"Your asthma." She said finishing his sentence.
Weevil gave her a look then a smile.
"I forgot you knew about that V. I'm surprised it's even something you remember."
"How could I forget seeing baby badass Navarro hooked up to a nebulizer in the back office of the nurses room. Your face when you saw me walk in was gold." Veronica said letting out a laugh recalling the moment.
"I remember that day, I wasn't a PCH'er just yet. I believe I was still in the initiation process but man I just remember thinking if you told anyone I'd be done for sure. There was no way they'd let in a kid who had to be administered a breathing treatment twice a day. It kinda went against the image they were going for you know."
"I had no intention to expose your secret but instead just use it to my advantage." Veronica said.
"What do you mean?" Weevil asked confused.
"I figured that if I ever did anything to end up on your list. Since I do have the tendency to get on people's bad side. I knew there was no way you'd have the lung power to actually catch me." She told.
This caused Weevil to laugh because she had a point. Back then he couldn't even complete a simple sprint in gym class without getting winded. Over time his asthma had gotten better but any type of extensive cardio was always a challenge.
"What'd I miss?" Wallace asks rejoining.
V and Weevil gave each other a look.
"You wouldn't get it, you had to be there." Veronica smiled.
/-/-/-/-/-/
"Veronica, so good to see you!" Kara said greeting Veronica.
"I know, it feels like it's been forever since I've seen you." V days hugging the beautiful chocolate skinned woman.
Kara was a traveling sales consultant which meant she spent most of her time traveling up and down the coast while living out of hotels. It was hard but she and Wallace made it work. She was hoping to find something more permanent in or close to Neptune once her and Wallace wed.
"You're not the only one who feels that way." Wallace says stealing his soon to be wife from Veronica's arms and brings her in for a kiss.
"Alright, alright, enough of that." Keith says jokingly walking in with Alicia at his side.
"Oh stop, they're in love." Alicia says defending the young couples public displays of affection.
"Ah yes, I remember those days. The honeymoon phase. A little advice son, agree to everything and apologize often. " Keith says.
"I believe the saying is: happy wife, happy wife." Veronica interjects.
"Speaking of happy wife, baby don't freak out...but the photographer called and she isn't going to be able to work the wedding." Wallace says to Kara.
"But what do you mean, the weddings in two weeks! What are we gonna do, we can't not have pictures and..." Kara says starting to freak out.
"I know, I know, she had a freak accident and broke her foot. There's no way she'll be mobile by then. I'm gonna figure this out babe, I promise. " Wallace tells his bride to be as he tries to calm her down.
"Well this terrible, I hope you got the deposit back too at least. Now where are we gonna find a photographer at such short notice ?" Alicia says.
"I think I no someone, he owes me a favor. Look, I'll be back in a few. Kara, no more tears, it'll all work itself out. I'm on the case" Veronica says.
Veronica!" Wallace shouts as she's about to open the door.
"I know, I know, I'm amazing." V smiles and heads out.
Veronica pulled up to Mars Investigations. Inside she was greeted by Emily the secretary, she checked the mail then made her way into the back.
"Good, you're here. I have something for you." Norris tells her, grabbing a file off the desk.
" I did some digging on Ofelia's no good boyfriend. Aaron Charles, his rap sheet is a mile long. DUI's, theft, possession and a bunch of DV charges. She's such a beautiful and smart girl, who would've thought she'd end up with a scumbag?" Norris says disgusted.
"She's only twenty, at that age your heart wants what it wants even if it's not good for you." Veronica responds looking over the folder for an address.
"Speaking from experience are we?" Norris smiles.
"No comment." V says hitting him on the head with the folder. "You haven't said anything to Weevil about this have you? I don't want him landing back in jail over this piss ant."
"What am I crazy? Of course he knows nothing about this. But you aren't thinking about going to pay this guy a visit alone are you?" Norris asked concerned.
"Well..." She started.
"Hell no V, I'm coming with you. Besides, what exactly would you say to him? Hey, I heard you like beating up women so fight me?" Norris said mockingly.
Veronica knew Norris had a point. In fact she didn't know exactly what she'd say when she saw Aaron. She just hated men who were batterers.
"Look, I'll tail the guy for awhile and see if he tries to make any contact with Ofelia. If he does, his face will come in contact with my boot. Repeatedly." Norris said with seriousness.
"How exactly is that any better than Weevil getting ahold of him? Next thing I know I'll be getting a call at two a.m to bail you out of jail? No, Norris I won't have you working this case." Veronica said.
"I wasn't asking for permission V. I won't do anything unless it's absolutely necessary, I promise. I watched Ofelia grow up, she's basically a little sister to me." Norris told her.
Veronica knew there was no talking him out of this so she gave in.
"Fine, just be discreet." She told him.
Norris smiles.
"Oh, now I remember why I came in. I need a favor, well technically you owe me one. But anyway, you know Wallace is getting married in two weeks and their photographer cancelled last minute so I was thinking...you could fill in." V said hopeful.
"C'mon, aside from myself you're the next best photographer I know. You know you're good. And...even though you owe me, I'd pay you for the time." Veronica added trying to butter him up.
"I owe you? How'd that happen?" Norris asked eyebrow raised.
"Two words: San Juan." Veronica smirked.
"Dammit! Okay fine, give the information. " Norris said reluctantly.
/::/::::::/::::/:/::/:::/
"Oh thank you, thank you, thank you!" Kara exclaimed as she hugged Veronica tightly after hearing the good news about the photographer.
"Consider me your fairy godmother." She laughed. " No honestly it was my pleasure, I felt like I was actually contributed something to the wedding. You know with my dad being sick in the beginning, I kinda just shut everything and everyone out. By the time things did turn around you and Wallace pretty much had everything done. So again, its my pleasure. Anything to make my baby bro's soon to be wife happy." Veronica says.
"I'm just glad Wallace has you in his life. You're definitely the big sister he never knew he wanted. I remember when he used to tell stories about high school, I was so nervous to meet you. Usually it's just the parents you have to be worried about meeting." Kara confessed.
"Oh wow really, I'm sure he made me sound more cool than I actually was. I on the other hand couldn't wait to meet you, it was almost if you were too good to be true. I mean Kara look at you, you're a bombshell! Not to mention all the degrees. Wallace did well, I guess you did too." They laugh and finish up their lunch.
"Hey let's, check this boutique out real fast I saw the most beautiful dress on their social media page. I want to see if they still have it in stock." Kara said walking in the direction of the store.
Veronica stopped in her tracks as soon as she saw what store Kara was referring to. It had been the same store she saw Logan's then pregnant girlfriend working in.
"Umm, I don't think I have time, I have to go into the office..." V started to say.
"Oh c'mon you're the boss, you can go in whenever you want. I promise it'll be quick." Kara said not taking no for an answer.
Reluctantly Veronica followed suit. When stepping inside they were greeted by the two young sales associates. The woman she had been avoiding was nowhere in sight. This relaxes her a bit.
"Here it is, what do you think? I was thinking it would be the perfect dress for the rehearsal dinner." Kara said excitedly holding the lacy white dress.
Veronica nodded in agreement. Kara went into the dressing room to try on the dress while Veronica browsed the shoe selection. She set her sights on a pair of black suede ankle strap heels.
"Hi, do you have these in a six and a half?" She politely asked one of the workers.
"We should, let me check in the back for you." The young girl replied, disappearing into the back room.
While she waited she noticed a pair of gold earrings and went over the mirror to hold them against her ears. Accidentally dropping them, as she made her way back up she spotted in the mirrors reflection she saw a familiar face holding a baby and froze.
"Veronica, can you zip me up?" Kara called from the dressing room.
Immediately the familiar face turned his head in her direction and she locked eyes with him in the mirror.
She hadn't seen Logan in three years, not since he broke off their engagement and left town to deal...