I never knew I had a dream

Until that dream was you

When I look into your eyes

The sky's a different blue

---Thank you For loving me, Bon Jovi

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Monday morning Logan sat in the kitchen eating blueberry pancakes with extra syrup while reading the paper.

"Logan?" Lynn called as she stumbled down the stairs half asleep, "Is that you?"

"Yes mom." Logan folded the front page and put it down on the table.

"So I guess that you're going to school today?"

"Gotta. Huge History test." Logan picked up his plate and put it in the sink.

"I'm sure that due to the circumstances you can make it up."

"Mom, I've gotta do this. Okay?" Logan sighed walking over to the stove, "Now I've got a little bit of time before I have to leave for school, do you want me to make you something to eat?"

"No thanks. I'll make something. Are you going to the hearing this afternoon?"

"I really don't want to. But I will if you need me there."

"I really do."

"I'll see you there then." Logan said

"You should probably leave early who knows how long it'll take you to get out of your driveway with all the paparazzi blocking the gate."

"Okay." Logan kissed his mother on the forehead, "Dad was stupid for cheating on you. You know that right?"

Lynn nodded her head gently and whispered, "I love you Logan."

She was an hour early for school but that was okay for Veronica. She took a seat next to the flagpole and began thinking about how many important things have happened in this very spot. She had met her first post-Lilly best friend here. Her relationship with Logan was also tested here when she had learned about his involvement in her being drugged.

"Hey." Logan called as soon as he saw her

"What are you doing here so early?" She asked walking up to him

"I kind of needed to get away from my house and the paparazzi."

"Is it bad?"

"Oh yeah doesn't even begin to cover it."

"How's your mom taking it?"

"She's doing okay. The way she sees it, getting arrested for statutory rape and making kiddy porn is a good reason to get a divorce and receive most of his earnings"

"That's good."

Veronica took Logan's hand as they walked over a table and sat down.

"So I called your house this weekend but your dad said that you're grounded. Please tell me it's not because of me and Friday night."

"It is because of Friday night, but not because I was with you. At least I don't think you are the reason. I think it's more the whole I wasn't were I said I would be."

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be."

"Have you at least gotten to talk to Lilly?"

"Not since we left the station. Have you talked to Duncan?"

"Nope."

"Sounds like the whole Kane family was incommunicado this weekend."

"Do you blame them? I mean you learn that your youngest daughter had sex with a man who is extremely close to the family. If I were them I'd be doing some hardcore family therapy."

"They've needed some hardcore therapy for a while."

"Speaking of therapy...do think your dad will un-ground you long enough to do something that I think they call facing your demons?"

"What do you have in mind?"

"My dad's arraignment is tonight. I was thinking we could go grab something to eat and then swing by and watch my dad get denied bail."

"Logan, you do know that the chances of your dad getting denied bail is highly---"

"Hey, hey, hey." Logan said interrupting her, "We do not mention the odds in my house. No one wants my dad to be let out. Except for Trina, probably. But no one's been able to reach her all weekend so..."

Suddenly Logan's phone began playing Bitch by Meredith Brooks and Logan laughed to himself.

"Speak of the whore and the whore shall appear. I got to take this." He said taking the phone out of his pocket.

"Okay." Veronica told him.

"Trina?" Logan asked walking away from the table, "I've been trying to get a hold of you all weekend. What took you so long to return my calls?"

"I was filming all weekend." Trina said with one of her over exaggerated sighs, "This is the first time I've gotten to check my messages."

"So I guess you haven't gotten to see the news either."

"What? Why? What happened?"

"Dad was arrested."

Veronica, trying not to eaves drop, pulled out her math notebook from her bag and began to work on the assignment that was due at the end of the day.

"Hey early riser." Lilly said taking a seat

"What are you doing here this early?" Veronica asked, shutting her notebook

"Well my dad has taken away my car, so I either had to have him drop me off later or go with Duncan before soccer practice."

"And you chose Duncan."

"Yep. Plus it was getting out of the house early. I mean if I had to spend one more minute with those people I unfortunately have to call my family I would die. And while we're on the subject of early morning arrivals, why are you here?"

"Well, much like you I had to spend far too much time with my family this weekend. I'm grounded."

"No way!" Lilly exclaimed, "Why?"

"Something." Veronica said shaking her head,"It's not important."

"And for an eighth strait week 'I hate my sister' is number one on the charts." Logan said taking a seat at the table.

"It went that bad?" Veronica asked

"You couldn't even imagine. She thinks that 'the charges are just some girls cry for attention', her words. By the way hello Lilly."

"Hi Logan."

"How are you doing?"

"I'm okay."

Veronica sat in silence staring at the look in Logan's eyes while he and Lilly made small talk. He had the same spark he's always had when he was around her. Logan Echoll's was falling back under Lilly's trance.

That afternoon at lunch Veronica sat with the rest of the 09-ers eating Chinese food that Lilly had ordered when Logan took a seat.

"Have you talked to your dad about this afternoon?" Logan whispered

Veronica nodded yes as she tried to chew the food in her mouth, "He said that I have to be there before it starts, I need to bring him food, and you can't take me home."

"All fine with me."

"Good 'cause I already told him you agree."

"So Logan," Dick said "do you have any idea who it was that your dad slept with?"

Lilly, Veronica, Duncan and Logan all groaned in unison.

"God, Dick." Lilly sighed, "Stop, okay?"

"I just want to know, was it someone who goes to school here?"

"Dick!" Veronica exclaimed, "Seriously, can't we go half an hour without someone talking about Logan's dad? He has to hear about it enough from every other person on the planet; he shouldn't have to hear about it from his so-called friends too."

Everyone sat in shock for a second, amazed that Veronica had just stood up for Logan then they were interrupted by a freshman with a pass from the councilor.

"Logan, Ms. James office wants you." the girl said.

"A meeting with Becky. Oh what fun." Logan said his voice filled with sarcasm

Logan got up to leave and turned to Veronica.

"I'll see you after school." He whispered

"Yeah." Veronica said nodding her head,"See you then."

Logan walked off and Veronica took one last look at him.

"You and Logan seem awfully friendly." Duncan said taking a seat next to Veronica.

"Are you talking to me?" Veronica said looking around playfully "Does this mean that I'm not invisible?"

"You've never been invisible to me." Duncan looked down at his feet for a minute before looking back at her, "So what's going on with you two?"

"Nothing."

"I wouldn't call what I saw Friday night nothing."

"Oh my god. I told Logan that I thought I saw someone peaking in the windows while we were having sex." Veronica said with a smirk.

"Very funny."

"Look, I was upset and he was calming me down. That's all, okay?"

"Okay. But you would tell me..."

Veronica gave him one of her looks and Duncan laughed to himself

"Good point. But I just want you to know that even though you and I aren't together you are still Lilly's best friend and I want to make sure that you're safe."

"Duncan, I promise that if I get into any trouble I will ask for your help. Happy?"

"Very much."

That afternoon Veronica stood by Logan's car waiting for him to show up

"There you are!" She exclaimed, "I thought you were bailing on me."

"Bail on you? Never!"

"Ready to go?"

"Of course." Logan opened the passenger side door, "Ladies first."

Veronica got into the car and Logan shut the door behind her.

"Let's go." Logan started the car and pulled out of the spot.

"So, do you think we can stop off at my house so I can change first?" Veronica said as she realized that jeans and a tee-shirt that read My other boyfriend does it better would not be the best thing to wear to court.

"Actually I already took care of that. Look in the back seat."

Veronica unbuckled her seat belt and turned around.

"You brought me clothes? That's so sweet, and possibly creepy if you were digging around in my drawers."

"Oh I could say something right now, but how about I just leave it with, I wasn't digging around in your drawers. I had your mom pick out something and then I picked it up after my meeting with Ms. James."

"How'd that go, by the way?"

"It went okay."

"What did she want to talk about?"

"The normal stuff. How I'm feeling about my dad being arrested, how I'm doing since learning that he had sex with the love of my life."

"And what did you tell her?"

"I told her that I hate it, but I can't go back in time and change it. That's your job."

"Logan."

"I'm kidding. Now come on, start getting dressed 'cause we're here."

An hour later Veronica and Logan walked into the courthouse and found it packed with people.

"Do you see your mom anywhere?" Veronica asked

"Yeah she's right over there with..." Logan ran a hand through his hair, "the Kanes."

"Oh boy, this is going to be fun."

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Who should Veronica end up with? Logan or Duncan?