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: PG-15/T+
Spoilers: Series thus far.
Pairings: WeeVer, some LoVe but believe me, WeeVer all the way.
Summary: Taking that final step will change everything.
Chapter Ten: Unknown
I am falling into grace
to the unknown to where
you are and faith makes
everybody scared, it's the
unknown, the don't know
that keeps me hanging on
and on, and on to you lifehouse, unknown, track three
Veronica looks up as the sound of Duncan's voice echoes in the football field. She grins at the look on her friend's face and glances behind her to see Weevil wink at her from where he sits in his cap and gown. She winks back at him, blushing slightly as he mouths, "I love you..." before turning back around.
Duncan clears his throat from where he stands on the stage. He coughs and says, "Good morning, ladies and gentlemen of the class of 2006..."
Cheers erupt from where the graduates sit on the bleachers and laughter echoes in the air as Duncan grins at the interruption. "Two years ago," he says as the noise quiets down. "Two years ago, my sister Lilly was murdered. We all know the story but I don't think a lot of you know who Lilly was."
"She was a normal girl except for one thing. Lilly loved life. She loved people, she loved chaos. She was the epitome of a party girl and she knew it. She made mistakes and she never admitted to them." He looks out across the crowd to meet Logan's eyes who nods slightly. Continuing, Duncan says, "But she also taught me something about life. Lilly taught me that if you don't enjoy your life, if you don't enjoy every second of every day then you aren't really living life to the fullest. You aren't really living life like you should."
He chuckles. "I remember once when we were kids," he says. "She got into my collection of baseball cards and she totally ruined them. And I was so angry and she said to me, "You know Duncan if you are this angry about a bunch of crummy cards, I'd hate to think what you'll do when I sneak out in your car."
Veronica laughs to herself as she looks up at Duncan. He smiles and adds, "I ruined her Malibu Barbie that night. Cut off the doll's hair and all she did was say she was thinking of giving her a haircut anyway."
"That was Lilly. She didn't apologize for who she was or what she did or what she said. She wanted to live her life to the fullest because she didn't know when it would be over." He looks out across the crowd. "My sister was sixteen when she died and I know if she was here today, she'd be in that crowd with the rest of you, and she'd be yelling, 'Finish the speech already! I've got a hundred parties to get to!'"
Laughter rang out in the crowd as Duncan smiles as he looks up at the sky. "So, in conclusion, I'd like to tell all of you, those of you that I know and those of you I don't, to live. Don't regret anything you've done and if you do regret something, fix it. Don't waste your life on maybes; we're young and we're all going to be going to colleges all over the country. Don't forget to love your life; it's the only one you've got." He looks down. "Thank you."
Cheers erupt into the sky and Veronica wipes at her eyes as she sees Mac place her fingers in her mouth and let out a piercing whistle as Duncan steps back and sits down. He grins over towards the computer hacker and Veronica smiles as she turns her attention back to her graduation ceremony.
--
"Veronica!"
She turns, laughing as Melvin and Chino both swoop down on her, hugging her tightly. Smiling, she says, "Where's Weevil?" as she searches behind them for her boyfriend. Melvin grins as he says, "Don't know. Probably with Grandma..." as Chino cracks, "God, you got our cousin whipped chica."
"Veronica!" Esther exclaims as she hugs the younger woman who returns it gladly. As Weevil's family takes turns hugging and congratulating her, she brightens as she sees her boyfriend making his way across the field towards them. Behind him trail her father, Alicia, Darryl, and Wallace.
Laughing, she hugs her dad as he says, "I am so proud of you..."
"I love you Daddy," she says to him and Keith's eyes soften as he says, "I love you too, kiddo."
Wallace hugs her and says, "Dang, it's over. I can't believe it."
"Believe it Tonto," she cracks and he groans as Alicia smiles at Veronica as she hugs her saying, "I am very proud of you Veronica..." and she replies, "Thank you..."
Darryl shyly accepts a hug and Veronica grins as she meets Weevil's eyes. He opens his arms and she steps into them, sighing with relief as his arms wrap around her solidly. Burying her face into his chest, she says, "I am so glad it's over."
"What? Graduation?" he asks as he pulls back to look down at her. "Girl, you know we got tons of parties to get too."
Veronica groans as she closes her eyes. "Can't we just make a break for San Diego?" she says as he laughs, kissing her swiftly on the mouth. "You're the one who agreed to help Meg plan this thing," he reminds her. "I suggested we just skip the whole ceremony but no, you insisted."
"I'm stupid," she says with a pout. "Don't listen to me anymore."
He laughs and kisses her again, despite Logan's call of, "Aw, man, I really don't need to see that."
Pulling apart, the couple turn to see Logan and Duncan walking across the field towards them. Duncan gives Veronica a tight hug and shakes Weevil's hand briskly, saying, "Good job Weevil."
The Chicano youth nods in reply as his grandmother calls, "Eli! A photo with your friends for the album, eh?"
"Grandma-"
"No," Logan interrupts as he looks at him. "No, it's okay man. Gotta preserve memories, right?"
Weevil nods cautiously and the two young men position themselves as Weevil wraps an arm around Veronica's shoulders. Esther takes the camera from her grandmother, saying, "So what should I tell you to say?"
"I don't know," Veronica looks up at him. "What should we say?"
Logan coughs, causing the others to look at him. "What would Lilly say?" he says after a moment and the four of them exchange glances before turning their heads to Esther and calling out, "Party!" as the camera flashes
--
Veronica stares out across the ocean and smiles as she feels a pair of arms wrap around her. Weevil settles his chin on her shoulder as he murmurs, "What are you thinking?" as he covers them both with a blanket. She leans back against him as she watches the waves and finally answers with, "I was thinking about Lilly."
Weevil nods his head. "I think everybody thought about her once today."
She looks down at their hands, entwined together and memorizes the sight of his dark cocoa skin against her pale peachy one. "Did you?" she asks and he shrugs behind her as he says, "Yeah. Thought about how she'd be doing body shots up there right now."
"Think you'd join in?" she asks and he laughs as he turns her chin to look at him. "I wouldn't be here if she was around, remember? I'd probably be out at a bar somewhere..."
"She wasn't that bad," she says and he nods, agreeing, "No, she wasn't. She taught me a couple things."
"This isn't anything I'm going to have to hit you for, is it?"
"No, it isn't," he says amusement tinging his voice. "She taught me that love isn't something that just happens. You gotta fight for it..."
Veronica blinks as Weevil's hand opens up revealing a silver heart and chain. She gapes at him before saying, "Eli?"
"No matter what happens," he says as he gently fastens it around her neck. "You are one of the most important women in my life, V. Don't forget that."
She turns to look at him and smiles. "I won't," she says as he kisses her and knows she means it. Then, they turn and watch the waves crash against the shore as behind them, a party rages on with music and laughter and most importantly, life.
Finis