A soft knocking stirred Veronica from her sleep. She lifted her head weakly and cast a bleary eye at the clock.

Inwardly she groaned, wishing she could return to her picture-perfect dream.

The knock sounded again, bringing her back to reality.

Slowly, she climbed out of bed, stretching as she trekked across the small apartment.

Through the shade she could make out the caller's outline.

'Definitely male,' she told herself, her heartbeat picking up speed, threatening to jump out of her chest.

He knocked again, more impatiently this time.

Veronica ran her fingers through her tangled, matted tresses before swinging the door open. When she saw the caller's identity, her face broke out into a smile that lit up her whole face, making her all the more beautiful, despite her bedraggled appearance.

"I was hoping it was you," Veronica informed him.

Duncan returned her smile with a weary grin of his own. "Hey."

Veronica stepped aside and gestured for him to enter. "You obviously didn't get much sleep," she said, breaking the awkward silence. "You should get a refund on that mattress of yours."

Duncan smiled softly. "I spent the night at the police station."

Veronica winced. "Ooh, yeah, those benches are kinda hard to sleep on. Did you get any sleep?"

"I fell asleep for about half an hour while my parents filled out a bunch of forms but…" Duncan trailed off and stared at the floor.

"But you had a dream," Veronica finished. "About Lilly."

Duncan's head whipped up, his vivid green eyes searching her sparkling blue ones. "Yeah, how…?"

"I had the dream, too," she told him softly, taking a step closer. "She said not to forget her."

Duncan shook his head ruefully. "Who could ever forget her?"

Veronica smiled sadly. "I know what you mean." She paused for a moment, studying his face before taking his tanned hand with her own thin, delicate fingers. "I miss her, too."

Duncan stared deep into her cloudy blue eyes. "I miss you. I miss us."

Veronica's heart melted and all the feelings that she had kept tucked away came flying back. "Me, too."

Duncan pulled her close. "What about Logan?" he asked.

"Over. I accused him of murder and he didn't react very well," Veronica whispered. "And Meg?"

"Over, too. I smashed my car after I found out about you and Logan. She didn't react very well either."

Veronica smiled gently. "Why did we ever break up?"

"Well, there was the whole you might have been my sister thing." Duncan ran his finger across her soft cheek.

"Oh, yeah, but I'm not your sister."

"No, you're definitely not," Duncan agreed. "Which is why I can do this."

He titled her chin up.

Veronica's breath caught in her chest as he pressed his dry, cracked lips tenderly against her surprisingly soft ones. She returned the kiss with all the love and passion she'd been repressing for over a year.

When they finally broke apart, gasping for air, Duncan took her face in his hands, memorizing every lovely feature. "Veronica, I love you."

Veronica's blue hued eyes blurred with glassy tears. "I love you, too."

At that moment, Duncan burst out laughing.

"What's so funny?" Veronica asked, confusion written all over her face.

Duncan wiped a tear from his eye. "I'm just imagining my mother's face when I introduce her to my new girlfriend and it's you!"

Veronica joined in his laughter.

Life was good…for the moment.