When he walked into the reception area of Mars Investigations, he didn't see her. He knew she was there because he had seen her car parked out front so he figured wherever she was, she'd be back soon and he'd just wait for her. Making himself at home, he sat in her chair at her desk and proceeded to look through her things. Eventually, he looked at her computer and was intrigued by the folders on her desktop. Each folder was labeled with a name of someone he knew. He opened the file labeled 'Duncan' and was surprised to see the file detailed the connection between Duncan and his sister's murder. 'Epilepsy? Duncan doesn't have epilepsy.' Intrigued, he opened the other files and realized that all of the files were details about Lilly's murder. He was about to click on the final folder labeled 'Weevil' when he heard a woman walk out of Mr. Mars office. He assumed Veronica would be right behind her.

She walked out of her dad's office and was astonished to see him sitting at her desk, looking at her computer. He didn't look at her but he knew she was there. "What is it with the Mars family?" Veronica's eyes widened when she realized what he was looking at. With a rush of adrenalin, she ran over to Logan, shut her laptop and walked it over to the other desk.

At that moment, Logan knew he had stumbled onto Veronica's secret hobby, investigating his ex girlfriend's murder. It didn't make sense to him because the police already had the confessed murderer on death row. "God Veronica, do you really believe Lilly's murder was some sort of vast conspiracy?"

She rolled her eyes. He didn't know the half of it. "I don't know what you saw." She responded, attempting to sound innocent.

"A file on Duncan."

Veronica knew she was defeated and replied quietly, "There's a file on everyone."

"Yeah. It's thorough." He was really impressed with her attention to detail. "I'm glad my alibi held up." He really didn't need this Nancy Drew wannabe looking into his life. He kept things private for a reason.

"Out of the country, two eyewitnesses. It's airtight." She was grateful somebody's alibi held up because no one else's did.

"How would Lilly feel if she knew you were investigating the people she loved?"

"I loved Lilly. Maybe if I didn't I could let this go but I did, so I can't." Veronica explained as tears welled up in her eyes. She couldn't do this. She wouldn't let Logan see her cry.

"Veronica, no one has ever questioned your love for Lilly. Anyone who saw the two of you together could see that you were like kindred spirits. I used to watch her when she was with you and I'd feel so jealous because I didn't have a friend like you in my life. Don't get me wrong, Duncan's great and all, but our friendship could never measure up to yours and Lilly's."

Logan's words caused her to break down. "I miss her so much." Veronica managed to get out between sobs.

Not knowing what else to do, he softly put his hands on her shoulders and gently guided her to the couch. When they were both seated he wrapped his arms around the crying girl and affectionately stroked her back in an effort to comfort her and whispered in her ear, "I know you do, Ronnie. So do I." He didn't see the slight smile that graced her lips at the use of his old nickname for her. They sat there holding each other, comforting each other, long after her sobs had subsided.

She didn't know what it was about being in Logan's arms but she couldn't remember the last time she felt as safe and protected as she did at that moment. She relished the newfound feelings and wished that time would stand still so they could stay how they were forever.

As if someone was reading her mind, the phone on the other side of the room began to ring and she felt like it was saying, "Screw you, Veronica Mars!" After a slight hesitation, she involuntarily let out a slight groan as she broke free from Logan's arms, rolling her eyes when she saw the smirk on Logan's lips. She got up quickly and answered the phone.

"Mars Investigations… No, he's not in at the moment… He's expected back tomorrow afternoon. Would you like to set up an appointment ... Okay, how about Wednesday at eleven… Sounds good. We'll see you then… Thanks, you too. Bye." After hanging up the phone, she wrote the appointment in her father's schedule.

Veronica looked over at the couch and found Logan sitting there starring at his hands in his lap, looking uncomfortable and unsure of what to do. She had to admit she found his to be a lot more attractive without the cocky smirk that usually adorned his face. Out of nowhere, she found herself looking at his lips and imagining what it would be like to kiss him. Lilly always told her that Logan was one of the few guys who really knew how to kiss.

'Snap out of it, Veronica! What's wrong with you? This is Logan you're thinking about here. Lilly's Logan. Sure, he's hot but he's a jerk. He's been making your life a living hell for the past eighteen months and you're thinking about kissing him? Stop thinking about him like that!' Veronica berated herself. She shook her head to clear her mind and realized she had no idea why he was there in the first place.

"Logan, what are you doing here?"

The startled look on Logan's face quickly disappeared as he got up and walked over to the desk she was sitting at. "I just came to give you this," he explained as he held out the paper he had just retrieved from his pocket. Seeing the look of confusion on Veronica's face as she unfolded the paper he added, "it's for looking for my mother and to say thank you."

She had never seen him that serious before and looking at the amount on the check realized that he had given her serious money. The check could easily cover a semester at UCLA and considering all of the money she had saved for college had gone to paying for her mother's alcohol rehabilitation, this check was a God send. She looked up to see Logan staring at her, obviously waiting for some kind of response. Looking back down at the check, she felt some tugging at her heart. She couldn't accept this money from him. She hadn't found Mrs. Echolls, she had just pulled Logan out of his state of denial. Without another thought, she refolded the check and tore it up. Looking up, Veronica saw the look of confusion in Logan's eyes. "Your mom was always nice to me. Even after Lilly's death she was one of the only people that didn't ostracize my family."

Veronica knew that she didn't need to say anymore. The look on Logan's face told her he understood. She almost thought she saw a glimpse of remorse when she mentioned that most of the town had snubbed her family, but she quickly told herself she was reading too much into it. Then, after giving her a nod and a slight smile, he turned and walked out of her father's office.