Disclaimer: I don't own Veronica Mars. The show and all its characters belong to its appropriate owners.The lyrics used are the property of the fabulous group Lifehouse and I claim nothing. I was merely inspired by a particular track and honored it.

Rating: R 'cause of well, da smut.

Spoilers: Anything goes considering I had to rewrite the whole thing due to the finale. Pairings: WeeVer, some LoVe but believe me, WeeVer all the way.

Summary: Taking that final step will change everything.

--

Chapter Two: Trying

let me be the first to say

that I don't have a clue

I don't have all the answers

ain't going to pretend that I do lifehouse, trying, track five

Time passes and Veronica finds herself wondering whether she really thought everything would go back to how it had been before. Before Lilly was murdered, before she had been raped, before she'd began that relationship with Logan that now when she looks back on it, didn't seem that important anyway.

She cares for Logan, she suspects she always will on some level but she isn't in love with him. She cares for Duncan but she isn't the same girl she was a year ago and he isn't the same boy. It's odd, how she opens her eyes one morning and realizes that the feelings she's had for Duncan are gone and have become feelings of affection for a warm, comfortable friend.

She thinks Lilly would get a kick out of that.

She goes down to the beach with Backup, the water is warm and she is glad she's worn shorts as she wades out into the calm, silent waves, letting them lap at her knees and then to mid-thigh as her puppy paddles around happily. She laughs as he bounds out of the ocean towards a figure coming down the beach and waves to Wallace, who grins back at her.

"Went by your place and you weren't there," her best friend says and she quips, "Nothing comes between a girl and her dog, you know. Except for a sunny day like this."

He grins and she grins back as she slips on her flip flops once they get back to the parking lot. She sees a group of familiar bikers in the distance and sighs as she feels Wallace tense up. She glances at him and smiling, says, "Why don't you take Backup back home for me? You know where the extra keys are."

He smiles gratefully and is halfway across the parking lot when Weevil pulls up before her, dark eyes twinkling as he takes her in, half wet with warm salt water. She eyes him, wearing black from shaven head to toe and says, "Aren't you boiling?"

"I've got a thick skin," he replies and she smiles as he looks around, his boys dispersing. Swinging himself off the bike, he leans against it and says, "How are you doin'?"

She shrugs. "I'm surviving," she says and he nods, his shaven head glinting in the sunlight. He sighs and rubs a hand on the back of his neck, saying, "Look, my grandma wanted me to invite you over for dinner."

"When?" she asks and Weevil says, "Tonight. I was gonna ask weeks ago but..."

"Yeah," she says and they are both quiet for a moment. She studies her feet and he studies her, admiring the glint of her hair in the sunlight before saying, "So, you'll come?"

She looks up and meets his eyes.

"Sure," she says and means it.

--

She pulls on her favorite jeans and a gauzy white top with a simple straight neckline. Brushing her hair and adding some lip gloss, mascara, plus her favorite white sandals. She breezes past her dad who says, "Have a nice time honey..." as he finishes prepping for his stakeout. She waves to him and goes to the LeBaron, starting it up and smiling at the familiar rumble it makes.

She arrives at Weevil's house and watches it for a moment. The lights are all turned on and she can hear the television playing as well as the radio singing a song in Spanish. She steps out of her car and locks it securely, walking across the street to the front gate. The front door opens and Weevil steps out, in dark jeans with a plain white shirt as he jogs over to her and lets her in.

"Right on time," he says and she relaxes as he adds, "Grandma's just finished cooking. Hope you ate a light lunch..." as he leads her into the house.

It's chaos.

That's the only word she can think of; there's about six kids ranging from four to nine sitting in the living room watching a cartoon while two men in their twenties stand in the dining room, setting the table as four young women sit at the table, laughing together. The men both greet her with smiles and winks, saying something in Spanish she can't catch. Weevil scowls at them and they chortle as they nudge each other.

"That's Melvin," he says pointing to the more muscular of the two. He's big with large hands and dark skin like chocolate, his smile wide and easy as he reveals a set of white teeth. He's wearing a green long-sleeved shirt and jeans as he greets her with a cheerful, "Hi Veronica!" rolling the r so it sounds drawn out and exotic.

"That's Chino," Weevil says as he nods to the smaller of the two who has a mop of curly black hair and a smile that is soft and shy. His eyes, the same molten brown as Weevil's twinkle as he shakes her hand, saying, "It's about time we meet the gringa who's captivated our little Eli, ain't it?"

"Shut up, man," Weevil says irritation written on his features as he grabs Veronica's arm and takes her into the kitchen. "Grandma?"

Letticia Navarro looks up, her face splitting into a smile as she moves away from the stove. "Veronica!" she exclaims and envelops her into a warm hug. Veronica hugs her back, relishing the smell of fruit and spices as Mrs. Navarro, says, "Finally, you are here to eat. I plan on fattening you up, you are far too thin, m'ija."

"It's good to see you Mrs. Navarro," she says and the woman smiles, concern written in her eyes as she studies Veronica's face. She cups her face in her weathered hands and says gently, "Time will heal all your wounds, Veronica. If you need to talk you only need to come here. Okay?"

Tears fill Veronica's eyes and she nods, smiling as Mrs. Navarro says, "Okay!" pulling away to look at Weevil. "Call in those cousins of yours," she says. "I need help serving all this food!"

"I can help," Veronica offers and Mrs. Navarro shakes her head, saying firmly, "No. You are our guest. You go sit with Eli and meet the rest of our family." She shoos them out of the kitchen and Weevil says, quietly, "She's been real worried about you. Especially when she found out how Echolls..." he motioned with his hands and she nods, understanding.

"It's nice to know that," she says and he smiles slightly at her before pulling out a seat for her and sitting down beside her at the table.

Dinner is chaotic; introductions are made and Veronica's amazed at how similar everyone is in appearance. The same eyes and hair are prominent in most of Weevil's family but she can see slight differences in build and personality.

She enjoys listening to Weevil's cousins argue, especially the girls. Celenia, Lisette, Maricella, and Esther are all sisters and argue playfully with one another. Esther is the oldest and she has a calm, soothing voice that matches her black hair and her dark eyes are hidden behind a pair of black frames. Her skin is paler than the rest of the table and she wears a gauzy brown skirt and white top with silver bangles jingling on her arms, turquoise and silver rings glittering on her hands as she sets down the food. She laughs, revealing a brilliant smile that has Veronica glancing at Weevil and smiling as he grins back at his cousin, the same smile on his own face.

Lisette has curly hair and wide brown eyes with deeply brown skin. She wears blue jeans low on her hips and a pale pink wrap top with black Adidas. She has simple gold earrings dangling from her ears and she says, "Hi Veronica!" in a chipper voice as she sits down on Veronica's other side.

Maricella has straight black hair and smiles as she sits down across from Veronica. Wearing a black tube dress underneath a denim coat that she shrugs off to show a pair of tan shoulders, she says, "I'm glad to meet you. How are you doing?" and Veronica is surprised at the lack of jewelry the young woman wears, a simple leather watch on her left wrist all that decorates her body.

"Don't be nosy," Celenia admonishes Maricella. She turns a pair of hazel eyes on Veronica, saying, "Sorry. She's been watching the trial for weeks now." She has dark hair streaked with blonde and orange, an effect that suits her well. She wears overalls splattered with paint and oil along with a long-sleeved white shirt. Chains hang from her neck, a cross and two brown leather straps are wrapped around her wrists as she sits with her body leaning forward and her legs spread, like a man. "She's a nosy one, our Mari."

"Fuck you," Maricella snaps and the table laughs as Celenia claps a hand over her heart dramatically.

Veronica glances at Weevil and finds him watching her. She grins at him and he smiles back as Mrs. Navarro enters with the final part of the meal.

Next Chapter Three: Quasimodo...