"This isn't a good idea. I should go." They were standing in front of Duncan's house and she was holding a bottle of wine, strongly resisting the urge to pop it open and swallow it down as fast as she could before someone opened the door. Wallace raised an eyebrow and gave her one his looks.

"Will you calm down? Everything is going to be fine."
"Wallace! Veronica! I thought he was lying when you said you were coming." Duncan hugged her warmly. She smiled and handed him the bottle.

"Great. I'll go put it in the kitchen." He started to walk away. "We'll catch up later."

"That a threat?" He shook his head, she's always the same.

Well, Duncan is officially a bachelor she thought running her fingers over the dusty mantel and the collection of Dvd's and play station 2 games. She picked up a picture, one she used to have a copy of at home, of her, Lilly, Duncan and Logan laughing at some crazy crack Lilly had made. I always loved this picture. She ran her fingers over the glass. Lilly... Something behind her creaked, she set down the picture and turned around slowly.

"Ronnie…you came." She smiled weakly .His eyes were wide and he had that same expression on his face, the one he used to have after she kissed him.

"Hey Logan." He swallowed hard.

"You, ah…," he waved his hands nervously, "You look great."

"Well sir, I declare. Any more from you and I'm apt to blush."

"And you still have that same jackass sense of humor. You haven't changed a bit." It was her turn to smile.

"You have. I'm not sure how…" she looked up at him. "But in a good way." I can't believe he's just standing there. There was silence again, but their relationship, their romance, had always been a quiet one and she was comforted by the fact that that, at least, had not changed.

"Well, I don't think we've been introduced." A short brunette walked in waving her hand, letting the light bounce off the large diamond on her finger. She waltzed over to Logan and placed her arm around his shoulder protectively. They stared at her.

"Well, honey?" she whined. He snapped out of his daze.

"Of course… Amber this is Veronica Mars. Ron-," He shook his head," Veronica this is Amber Jason."

"His fiancée," she added tightening her hold. Veronica held out her hand graciously. Where did he find this one.

"It's so nice to meet you. Congratulations" Amber sniffed and shook her hand. Their eyes met and the challenge sent from Veronica's eyes to Amber was unmistakable; if Logan hadn't known any better he would have sworn Veronica was about to punch his fiancée. Wallace walked in, assessed the situation and knew he should probably get his best friend out of that room as quickly as possible.

"Veronica… there you are. I've been looking for you everywhere." She beamed.

"Have you?"

"I sure have. Duncan is dying to tell you about this new magazine he's starting. Says he needs a killer photographer."

"Well, what kind of friend would I be if I didn't help him out?" Her eyes told him he worried too much, I wasn't planning on doing anything. He chuckled inwardly. Sure you weren't. "I'll see you guys later." Veronica gave a small wave. "Bye Amber, Logan." Wallace led her out of the room.

She opened her eyes to a knock on her window.

"Logan?" she yawned. "What time is it?" He raised an eyebrow. "Oh, yeah…Let you in, right." He stepped over the ledge and threw his bag in the corner.

"Your Dad?" he whispered.

"Out on a big case. He left Backup." He smiled and kissed her lightly.

"Let's go to sleep." Veronica took his hand and he followed her to her bed where they slid under the covers. He felt her weight against him as she lay her head on his shoulder and breathed in deeply. The scent of her hair was clean, her skin soft under his hand and he felt completely at peace. This is what she could do for him, she could turn his life upside down in a fraction of a second and set everything right just by breathing. It had become a routine with them, a way being together without needing to examine things; he knew it wasn't completely physical attraction, wasn't sure if it was spiritual, emotional or whatever, he just needed her. And she needed him.

"No monkey business," she murmured into his chest.

"I wouldn't dream of it."

"Make sure you don't." Darkness fell, the house settled; the next time he looked down she was asleep, smiling a smile only a precious few had ever seen and letting her hand sooth his quickened heartbeat.

"Veronica looked the same," he said, "Didn't she look the same?"

"I didn't know her before." Amber slurred, clearly bored with the subject at hand.

"She looked the same." He waved a hand absently.

"If you say so." She stumbled slightly and giggled.

"Whoa, Amber, maybe you had a little too much."

"I don't think so." She inched up so that she was looking straight into his eyes and her body was pressed against his. "I think I had just enough." He smirked.

"You have, have you?"

"Uh, huh," she replied teasingly biting her lower lip. She stumbled and fell into a parked car setting of an alarm. "Whoa. Shhhh!" She giggled. That's my girl…

"I think its time I brought you home." He helped her into the passenger seat.

"Okay hubby." She reached up to kiss him. In the time it took Logan to walk to the other side, she was completely asleep.

"Definitely had too much." She snored in agreement.