Title: Forever After

Legal: For legal purposes it must be stated that I do not own the characters Of Veronica Mars nor do I own the lyrics of "Here I am" by Kelly Clarkson. Love em' both though.

Chapter Six

A WEEK LATER

Seems like just yesterday

You were a part of me

I used to stand so tall

I used to be so strong

Logan looked away quickly, as soon as Veronica turned her head his way. He was trying to give her space but it wasn't easy. The first day she'd come back to class she'd practically ran, every time she saw him. He tried to smile at her but she turned away and every time she rejected him it tore at his heart.

Your arms around me tight

Everything, it felt so right

Unbreakable,

Like nothing could go wrong

He was watching her again, or still. Starring with sad but hopeful brown eyes and it hurt her heart to look at him. She was sitting at lunch with Wallace talking about Miss Simmon's Bio lab and Logan was ten feet away. She could get up and walk over there, into his arms and this..ache would go away.

Now I can't breathe

No, I can't sleep

I'm barely hangin' on

He'd lain awake last night, tracing the framed photo of the two of them that he'd put next to the bed. They looked so happy; wrapped in each other's arms and moments later it was gone.

Here I am, once again

I'm torn into pieces

Can't deny it, can't pretend

Just thought you were the one

"Do you think he knew?" Veronica asked abruptly.

Wallace frowned. "Who? Knew what?"

Veronica flushed pulling her gaze away from Logan's quiet form.

Wallace followed her look. "Logan?" he paused, thinking carefully. "Nah. Not his style right? He's obnoxious and impulsive. First thing that pops in his head, you know?"

"Yeah. I know." She frowned looking over toward Logan again.

Broken up, deep inside

But you won't get to see the tears, I cry.

Behind these hazel eyes.

"Hey, Logan, you up for something this weekend? Mike and I are headed over to the islands." Casey asked.

The Islands, LaCuna Bay. Where he'd wanted to take Veronica. "Uh..I don't know." He answered, glancing quickly toward Veronica's table.

Casey followed his gaze. "Wanna ask your girlfriend first? It's okay we won't call you whipped."

"Thanks." Logan smiled sarcastically. "I won't ask why you and Mike are going away together for the weekend."

"Ha, ha." Casey punched his shoulder.

I told you everything

Opened up and let you in

You made me feel alright

For once in my life

"I don't know how to feel, when I look at him." Veronica admitted glancing toward Logan.

Wallace followed her look. "Depends. If it was important, then maybe you should just talk to the guy. If you were just playin'? Stay mad, forget it. He's a jerk anyway, right?"

"He's not-" Veronica started to defend Logan when she caught Wallace's look. "Okay, fine. You caught me."

"You obviously care for the guy, for whatever reason." Wallace gave her a sad look. "You gonna hate the guy forever, for a mistake he didn't even know he was making?"

Now all that's left of me

Is what I pretend to be

So together,

But so broken up inside.

"Yeah, man. I'm up for whatever." Logan dragged his eyes away from her, smiling brashly.

"Right on, we'll do a little surfing, check out the local ravers. Pick up a couple hotties." Casey smiled.

Cause I can't breathe

No, I can't sleep

I'm barely hangin' on

"What are you planning to do this weekend?" Veronica asked suddenly, changing topics, and pulling her eyes away fromLogan again.

"My mom's sending me to Atlanta. My grandmothers. She says I need to go remember my roots." Wallace grumbled unhappily.

Veronica raised an eyebrow curiously.

"Nana's old fashioned. No tv, church on sundays, bed at eight." Wallace admitted and she stifled a laugh.

"It's your fault! She told me we were being too secretive lately." Wallace gave her an embarrassed look and she started laughing.

Here I am, once again

I'm torn into pieces

Can't deny it, Can't pretend

Just thought you were the one

Logan's head jerked around at the sound of her laugh. She looked happy for the first time in a week and he found himself smiling. He wanted her to be happy, he just wanted her to forgive him so he could be happy with her.

Broken up, Deep inside

But you won't get to see the tears, I cry

Behind these hazel eyes

Laughing felt good it gave her relief from the crushing ache she carried in her chest, but she knew Logan was watching, so close, so far away. She missed him.

Swallow me, then spit me out

For hating you I blame myself

Seeing you, it kills me now

No, I don't cry on the outside, Anymore

"Dude, seriously, your kinda making me ill. If you wanna go hang out with her, go. I don't wanna sit here and watch you ogle your own girlfriend." Casey complained.

"Shut up." Logan said without turning his head. She was still smiling when Weevil walked up and she turned her beautiful smile up at him.

Anymore...

Weevil was looking at her funny. "Hey, what's up?" she asked still smiling at Wallace's grumbling.

"Is it true?" Weevil demanded, his voice accusing.

She stopped smiling. "Is what true?"

"You, with him." Weevil shot an evil look over her shoulder, toward Logan.

Here I am, once again

I'm torn into pieces

Can't deny it, can't pretend

Just thought you were the one

Why was she even talking to him? Logan's fist clenched angrily. Weevil looked angry about something, Veronica had lost her beautiful smile. Her first in over a week and Weevil had destroyed it, like he'd destroyed everything else. Weevil glanced his way and Veronica turned to look at him, meeting his gaze.

Broken up, deep inside

But you won't get to see the tears, I cry.

Behind these hazel eyes.

She glanced over her shoulder at Logan, who was watching them intently. The moment their eyes met she felt the same tug that always drew her to him. Logan needed her and she wanted to go to him, she knew it hurt him to watch her talk to Weevil, especially with things between them so strainedBut she wasn't ready"Come on, lets go talk." She rose, leading Weevil away. She didn't turn to catch the look of hurt on Logan's face.

Here I am, once again

I'm torn into pieces

Can't deny it, can't pretend

Just thought you were the one

He watched her walk away with Weevil and something broke inside. He rubbed the spot over his heart absently as he stared at them. Despite everything, he'd still waited for her to forgive him, but what if she found someone else, Lily had. He wanted to go over there and rip her away but he knew he'd lose her all over again. She glanced his way and he saw Weevil follow her look before they turned back to each other, dismissing him.

Broken up, deep inside

But you won't get to see the tears, I cry.

Behind these hazel eyes.

"You don't understand." Veronica gave in and glanced back to see Logan watching them. She felt a piercing guilt. "I know you don't like him but Logan's not the way he seems. He's just..complicated."

"Yeah, he's complicated. That's what Lily said, you forget about her? Huh?" Weevil sneered.

She felt the jab hit its mark and the burning started behind her eyes. "How can you say that? I loved Lily."

"So did I. What do you think, she would say about you and him making time, instead of finding out what happened to her?" Weevil glared at Logan over her head.

"I am finding out. I never stop looking!" Veronica shot out furiously.

"Yeah." Weevil looked away. "Just remember, everybody has secrets, even your boy over there."

"He wasn't even in the country!" Veronica told him angrily, but Weevil shook his head at her.

"Whatever." He turned, walking away while she struggled with the urge to run after him and scream at him.

"What was that about?" Wallace asked, nodding toward Weevil's retreating form, as he walked up.

"He wasn't happy about Logan." She shrugged.

"Who is? Funny thing? I could have said the same thing, in reverse." Wallace answered.

Instantly her eyes went to Logan's table . It was empty, she searched the lunch crowd for his familiar face and felt disappointment fill her when she didn't find him.

"He left." Wallace answered her unspoken search. "He watched you for a while then he just got up and walked away. I don't think he was feeling very good, he looked kinda pale."

"Come on. I've got things to do." Veronica tugged at his arm to get him to walk with her. She ignored the pale comment, she knew he was saying it to get a rise from her. He glanced at her with worry in his eyes but stayed silent as they headed back inside.

Chapter Seven:

SATURDAY

She glanced at the clock when the phone ran. Seven forty three, too early to be her Dad checking in from Detroit. When he'd said, he was going out of town this weekend she'd been secretly relieved. Ever since the night of the party he'd been..hovering. It was endearing really. At least that's what she told herself. It was probably Wallace calling to whine about being stuck at his grandmother's. She smiled as she picked up the phone.

"Hello?"

"Veronica?"

She frowned. "And this is?"

"It's Aaron. Aaron Echolls. I-Veronica I don't-" he stuttered and her heart stopped.

"Logan? Is he-?" she stood, looking around frantically. Keys, Keys! Where the hell are my keys? "What happened?" oh my God, Logan, not Logan no.

"I-he's alright. I think. I..found something. It..something about Lily. Can you come over. I don't know what to do. Logan's not here he left for the weekend with some friends but I'm not sure what I found, what this means." Aaron admitted.

He's okay. Logan's okay. Her heart stopped trying to beat its way out of her chest and she took deep calming breaths. "What is it? What did you find?"

"Logan wasn't in Tijuana the day Lily died. He came home earlier that day. I found- a tape, there's tapes of Lily..and Logan." Aaron admitted.

Tapes? "Tapes? Like video tapes?" she echoed in confusion.

"I'll show you when you get here." Aaron said and before she could ask him what was on them she herd the dial tone in her ear when he hung up.

She stared at the phone for a minute, torn. Logan wasn't there, she could go over, take a look. Maybe;there was something on them but Lily loved to tape things, there was plenty of footage of Lily and the things she loved. It made sense for Logan to have some of them, keep them to remember her. She shrugged, reaching for her bag. Her dad would call in another hour, she had to be back by then or he'd worry. It would take ten minutes to get to Logan's and another ten back which left forty minutes to get Logan's Dad to tell her what he thought he knew and hand over the tapes so she could watch them. "Piece of cake." She piked up her keys to head out and Backup whined, following her.

"Sorry buddy. Not this time, okay? Stay here, I'll be back soon."

Backup panted at her but dutifully sat back to watch her leave.

She made it to the Echolls estate in eleven minutes, thanks to an excessively long red light and pressed the gates intercom.

"Hello?" Aaron's voice crackled over the box.

"It's Veronica." She answered.

"Come up to the garage." Aaron instructed as the gates slid open. She drove through them slowly, following the winding path to the open garage doors. She parked the car inside and stepped out just as the garage door lowered and Aaron stepped through a connecting door.

"Through here." Aaron gestured with a distracted smile. "I'm glad you came Veronica." He stepped back, allowing her to enter first. "I don't want to think badly of my son. I know I-I'm not the greatest father and I do have a bad temper. I'm working on that but Logan's my son. As much as he may think he hates me, the truth is we're more alike then he'd care to admit."

Veronica turned to look at him, confused about the things Aaron was revealing to her. "I don't understand."

"Logan knew Lily was cheating on him. He'd come home so angry, Lynne, his mother, used to talk to him whenever he got like that. She told me, about Lily, about how wild she was." Aaron walked her toward the back of the house, gesturing for her to follow him.

"What does this have to do with Lilly's murder?" Veronica demanded, uncomfortable with talking about Logan's jealousy over Lily.

"She slept around on him, you know?" Aaron confided, looking back to gage her reaction.

"What?" Veronica stared incredulously as they walked into a darkened room. The only light came from a projector screen that glared white from one end of the room.

"Sit," Aaron pointed toward the couch as he headed to the machine. "I didn't know you and your father were still investigating Lily's murder. Oh, don't worry," he waved her away, when she opened her mouth to demand how he knew. "Logan doesn't tell tales-except when he's drunk. He's been plenty drunk since you came into his life. One minute he's in love the next minute you hate him and then your running off with that-what's his name biker. The same one Lily screwed. Strange. Guess you two had a lot in common too."

She was shaking, she realized suddenly. Something was off, wrong about the whole thing. "I'm not-"

The screen flickered to life and Lily's face stared at her. Veronica shut her mouth in surprise when Lily smiled. "You should have a mirror up there."

"Your vain, my love." Logan's voice said from somewhere nearby.

"And your a prude. Don't be boring." Lily admonished and Veronica finally broke out of her shocked stupor to see Lily was laying on a bed. It looked familiar. A minute later a figure moved into frame, leaning over Lily's reclining form.

"Mm. You're a little she-devil, aren't you?" Logan teased kissing Lily's lips. She put her arms around him, kissing him in return. It was a long time ago, it shouldn't hurt to see them together like this. She knew Logan loved Lily she'd just forgotten that Lily had also loved Logan.

"Logan!" a voice called and Logan's head lifted. He groaned.

"Your brother's here."

"That's my big brother. Worst timing in the world." Lily quipped and Veronica smiled.

A minute later the view switched and she saw Duncan enter through the gauze curtains. Curtains she recognized, it was the pool house. Lily wasn't filming, she was being filmed without her knowledge. Betrayal slammed into her.

"Hey Logan. We going out tonight or what?" Duncan was asking just as she watched her younger self walk in behind him.

"Yeah. We're going." Logan confirmed smiled as Lily rose reaching out to grab the younger Veronica.

"Veronica Mars, what are you wearing!" Lily demanded, critically frowning at the other girl's outfit and Veronica found herself wincing at her younger self's clothing. It was pretty bad, did I really dress like that. Martha Stewart watch out!

"It's..what's wrong with it?" the younger Veronica asked self consciously.

"It's horrible. You look like a peasant girl form one of those foreign films." Lily grimaced.

"Leave her alone." Duncan stepped in, slipping an arm around the younger her.

"But-" Lily protested.

"She's fine." Logan reached out to pull Lily back. He smiled at the young Veronica. "You look fine."

"Thanks." Her younger self replied with a shy smile, before sticking her tongue out at Lily, who promptly stuck her tongue out in return.

"Let's go." Duncan ordered, rolling his eyes at the two of them. He walked out holding the younger Veronica's hand as she turned back to cross her eyes at Lily, who made a face back.

"Come on, Brat." Logan said with a long-suffering sigh.

"Why do you always do that?" Lily demanded suddenly, turning around to confront him.

"Do what?" Logan asked frowning.

"You're always nice to Veronica and act like I'm being mean to her. You act like she's a child or some thing." Lily pouted.

"I don't. Veronica's..I don't know-innocent or something. You should just let her be instead of trying to change her all the time." Logan crossed his arms over his chest as Lily smiled slyly.

"You still have a crush on her, don't you?" Lily taunted.

"What?" Logan stared at her incredulously.

"Trina told me about your old crush. A Soccer uniform? Pretty kinky for such a boring guy." Lily raised her eyebrow.

"Your-she's.." Logan shook his head at her. "It was four years ago. Don't go around repeating things like that or Duncan'll have a fit."

"No, he won't. Veronica' not a cheat. Besides..she'd never have you in a million years, Logan Echolls. You're damaged goods." Lily smiled wickedly. Poking him in the chest with her finger and Veronica wanted to yell at her old friend. "Just like me." Lily laughed. How could you Lily? Lily darted out the door, still laughing and Logan shook his head as he walked behind her.

The footage stopped with a whirl and the screen went white again, shocking Veronica back to present day. She blinked, the darkness in the room surprising her after she'd been so wrapped up in the past.

"What is this?" Veronica asked, turning to look at Logan's Dad.

"It's a tape. From the pool house. It was on, recording every time someone entered." Aaron explained detached.

"Security?" she frowned. Why keep tapes of Logan and Lily?

"Not exactly." Aaron answered raising his hand so she could see the gun he held that pointed at her.

She gaped in surprise. "What are you doing?"

"What I have to. When Logan started bringing that little slut around I knew she would be trouble. Logan never listened, to anyone or anything. She screwed around everyone knew it and he was a laughingstock, but did he care? No, it was Lily this, Lily that! You should have seen them, hopping into bed together all the time, it was disgusting." Aaron spat, coming around to face her.

"Why are you telling me this?" she demanded her eyes focused on the gun in his hand.

"She was going to ruin my family. I just wanted to talk to her. Reason with her, she wouldn't listen. She went crazy, screaming at me. I-I hit her to get her to shut up and she came at me. I knocked her away and she fell. She never got up again." Aaron explained gazing off distractedly.

Tears spilling down her cheeks as she stared in horror at him. "You, you killed Lily?"

His eyes flashed back to her. "It was her own fault. She was a slut, she wasn't good enough for this family!"

She felt a wave a nausea roll through her. "Oh God. You slept with her." Logan was going to be devastated. Oh Lily, why? Why did you do this?

Aaron pointed toward the screen. "In the pool house. She said she felt guilty, she wanted to tell Logan. She just wanted to get back at him for kissing some girl."

"So you slept with her and she was going to tell. Logan never would have let it go, he would've told the world and your precious public image would have been torn apart. 'Movie star caught in bed with sons' underage girlfriend'" she quoted, turning it into a headline. "So you swatted her down like a bug? You ruined our lives, Logan's life."

"He would've been fine, if you hadn't come into his life. Dredging up Lily's death all over again, and now.." He frowned at her regretfully. "And now, I can't let you go on, digging around. Logan's out of the country with friends, by the time he gets back you'll have had a little accident. I'm really disappointed, Veronica, Logan's going to have a tough time losing you before he could make up for your fight. Don't worry though, " Aaron smiled encouragingly. "I'm going to be here for him. Maybe we'll move, we'll rebuild our relationship."

"You're sick." She stepped back slowly. "Listen Aaron, Logan is going to blame himself again. He'll be devastated but you don't have to do this. I won't say anything. I'll even help you rebuild your relationship with Logan." She offered with a shaky smile. Another small step.

"Really?" Aaron looked at her curiously. "You'd do that for me?"

"Sure. Afer all, Logan needs his father, right?" deliberately playing stupid as she edged herself back another step.

"Nice try. You're not really a very good actress, Veronica. You can't stand me, all those lies Logan's been telling." Aaron reminded her.

"They're not lies." Veronica dropped the act. "You beat him. Broken noses, cigarette burns. I heard, I just didn't want to believe."

"You don't know anything. You're a stupid little whore like Lily. Let's go." He pointed toward the door with his gun.

"Where are we going?" she asked as she turned to face the door, moving slowly.

"We're going to take a nice little ride." Aaron said walking up behind her to push the gun into her back. She walked into the hallway carefully, trying to think. If she could reach into her bag for her cell phone without Aaron noticing.. But who could she call. Neptune's Sheriff's office would probably just ignore it as a prank. Wallace, her dad even Logan was out of town.

Suddenly the door ahead of her opened and even as she opened her mouth to call out a hand slapped over her mouth.

She struggled against Aaron's punishing grip as Logan stepped inside carrying a backpack. Her eyes widened as she recognized him and fought harder to get free. Logan shut the door behind him and walked out a view.

"Stop fighting. I'll shoot you right here and tell Logan you broke in to prove he killed Lily." Aaron hissed against her ear.

Her hands dropped as she stopped fighting him and he pushed her ahead of him once more. She waited until they were closer to the door before dropping to her knees. Flipping over quickly she struck out aiming a kick for Aaron's kneecap. She heard a satisfying crack as he boot connected with jeanclad bone. Aaron shouted as he fell to his own knees but she was already scrambling to her feet.

"Logan!" she screamed as she ran, racing to put a wall between her and Aaron's gun. "Logan!"

The hallway ended and she turned another corner. Where are you? Where? Where? The rooms were all empty but she continued to turn corners until she turned another and froze.

Aaron was standing three feet away holding the gun that pointed at her heart. "He's either wearing those headphones of his or passed out already. Either way he won't be any help to you."

I'm sorry Logan. I'm so sorry. I'm going to leave you alone again. She stared at the barrel of the gun and saw all the faces she loved; her Dad, Wallace, Duncan, Lily, her mom and finally Logan. She saw them smiling and then devastated by grief except Lily. Lily was waiting for her on the other side. She took a deep breath, time seeming to slow as she faced reality. Aaron was going to kill her and finally she would find peace, because she would be with Lily again. Veronica closed her eyes.

"Veronica." Logan's face flashed in her mind. "Don't leave me." He had pleaded.

"I won't." She had told him and she opened her eyes. "I won't let you kill me like you killed Lily."

"What are you going to do, I'm the one with the gun?" he pointed out, smiling at her. She felt rage fill her.

"She has me." Logan said softly as he stepped out form the hallway behind her.

Aaron's face went slack as he stared in shock at his son but Veronica looked at Logan as he stepped past her. Logan looked back at her with despair in his eyes. She wanted to reach out to him, tell him it wasn't his fault but Aaron was already talking even as Logan put himself between her and his father.

"Logan, stop. You don't understand. She broke in here, looking for evidence to use against you. She blames you for Lily's death." Aaron protested while Veronica surreptitiously reached for her cell phone.

"I don't care." Logan said flatly. "I don't care why she's here all I care about is why she thinks your going to kill her and why she thinks you killed Lily."

"She's crazy. She probably killed Lily herself. She attacked me." Aaron argued. "What are you doing here anyway? I thought you'd be gone this weekend."

"Why? So you cold kill my girlfriend in peace. Again?" Logan questioned dangerously and Veronica saw his fists clench.

Frantically she pushed the emergency dial button on her phone. She prayed as it rang until dispatch finally picked up. "Logan don't do anything stupid." She told him aloud. "Mr. Echolls you don't want to shoot your own son. Why don't you lower your gun?"

"Veronica, get out of here." Logan said softly.

"I'm not laving you." She vowed fiercely to his back.

"She 's not going anywhere. Don't do this, Logan. Don't make me do this." Aaron pleaded.

"Make you?" Logan sneered. "Like I made you break my nose? Or whip me with your belt? Am I going to make you kill me?..The only way your getting to Veronica is through me. You tell me."

"Logan, no." Veronica gripped his shirt, trying to drag him away.

"Logan, she has to be stopped, can't you see that? She wants to ruin our family." Aaron waved his gun toward her. "She was just using you to get to me."

She felt Logan flinch beneath her hands and wished she could explain things to him but she couldn't risk Aaron getting angrier.

"It doesn't' matter. It's over." Logan told his father, stepping closer. "I'll tell everyone what you've done. To me. To Lily. To all of us. You're not the hero in this one, Pop."

Aaron regarded his son sadly. "Then I guess it doesn't matter how this ends."

It sounded like a balloon popping from far away. A loud bang before Logan slammed backward into her, before the smell of cordite filled her nostrils. She fell with him, cradling him in her arms as she hit the floor. Aaron stood over them with a horrified look on his face.

"Logan!" she screamed, dragging herself out form under him to lean over his writhing form.

"Veronica." Logan choked as blood bloomed over the black stain on his shirt. She pressed her hands to the hole in his side to staunch the bleeding.

"Hold on, hold on." She chanted, stripping out of her jacket to press it over the wound.

"Veronica." Logan coughed again.

"Sshh. Don't talk. It'll be okay." She was crying, tears dripping from her face onto his shirt. "I love you."

"Go. Run." Logan whispered, his face pale, his eyes glassy with shock.

She shook her head at him. "I'm not leaving you alone."

"Please?" Logan reached for her hands, pulling them away.

"It's too late." Aaron answered instead, as another round clicked into place.

Veronica turned to stare at him over her shoulder. There was no remorse, no concern for his son who lay bleeding to death. She looked down at the blood on her hands and slowly she pulled Logan's hand over her jacket, pressing down to slow the bleeding. She stood shakily and turned to face the author of the past year's misery.

"Your son of a bitch! I called the cops and they're on their way to arrest you, you stupid ass. The world's going to know what a fucking coward Aaron Echolls really is you murdering-"

Aaron raised the gun and she screamed, launching herself at him. He dropped the gun as he tried to pry her off but she held on, biting, scratching, digging her nails into his eyelids. Screeching the whole time like a woman possessed.

Aaron got a hand over her face and shoved her off, knocking her into the wall. She was about to fly at him again when the popping came again and they both froze. Veronica stared at the red stain spreading across Aaron's shirt stupidly. Aaron looked down and frowned before falling back onto the sea-green carpet.

The gun dropped from Logan's hand and she snapped out of her daze to rush to his side.

"Logan! Can you hear me? Hold on. I'm calling 911. Help's coming." She promised reaching for her cell phone even as the sirens crew closer. "Hear that? They're on their way."

"Veronica..."Logan sighed, starring at her.

"Yeah?" she whispered back.

"I'm sorry." Logan shivered and she felt more tears drip off her chin.

"It's okay." She told him, trying to smile.

"Do you think Lily will be there?" he asked and she went rigid with fear.

"Don't you give up on me Logan! Don't you leave me! You hold on, Damn it!" Veronica sobbed, replacing her hands over him.

"Never." Logan smiled faintly and then he was gone.