Disclaimer: I don't own Veronica Mars, yadda, yadda, yadda…

"There's gotta be another way, V." He looks panicked. She knows he looks panicked, but she can't do anything to stop that. She has a point to prove.

"What, Logan? Like moving out of Neptune? Because much as I've," Her voice drops until it is low and dreamy. Seductive. "Wished and hoped and dreamed for this day…leaving because of you is not an option." She leans forward slightly, capturing his lips with hers. "You're the only thing that makes it bearable." Her words are sweet, he realizes sighing, but untrue. Only a few months ago, the unbearability of Neptune had been his fault.

"V-" He starts, but she shushes him, biting her lip as she slips onto his lap, wrapping her legs around his waist.

"Logan, we're not talking about this anymore. My dad will come around. I mean, have you seen his shelves since mom left? They're chock full of, 'How to be a Better Father' and 'One Parent Homes: Successful Solutions'."

"Which means what, Veronica?"

"Which means that not one of those books is going to tell him to uproot his 18-year-old daughter and take her away from the only place she's ever known as home right after such a large tragedy." His eyes widen. As an unspoken rule, they don't talk about the crash or anything pertaining to it. He's surprised she's hedged into this territory.

"Maybe that's why he's doing it, Veronica." He murmurs, his voice low. He's still not looking into her eyes. He can't look into her eyes.

"Hm?" She asks, leaning into him and nuzzling his neck. The scent of honeysuckle and lemons floats back to him, and for the rest of his life he knows he'll associate it with her. Veronica.

"I'm just saying, V, that maybe he's not reading the books anymore. Maybe he's just so goddamn grateful that you weren't on that bus…" His voice is breaking, and he looks away, swallowing hard. "That he doesn't care about why or who you were with. He just sees that his daughter was in danger. Probably still is in danger. And he can't handle it. I wouldn't be able to handle it either." Gently shaking her off his lap, he stands, turning from her and running his fingers through his hair.

"I'm not-" She starts, biting her lip to stop herself because she knows he's right. "I'm safe when-" I'm safe when I'm with you.

"When, Veronica? When you're with the hooligan who's father murdered Lilly Kane? The one that you're sleeping with? That he had to throw out of here a few weeks ago? Because honestly Ronnie, I wouldn't trust that guy with my daughter." She breathes in sharply, the noise resonating throughout the room.

"Logan, I-"

"And the thing is," He cuts her off, laughing icily. "He's right." She gasps again, standing this time, placing a comforting hand on his arm,

"How can you say that? You saved me." There are tears in her eyes, and her voice is haggard, but he knows she won't let them fall. She's strong.

"But what've you got to look forward to now? What future could you possibly have with me?" Hot tears tumble down his cheek and with a disgusted sigh he wipes them away, his eyes never leaving hers. "Sure, we can have Thanksgiving with Grandpa Echolls, Jr." His voice is mockingly hopeful, and she finds that she can't look at him when he's like this. The awful memories it brings back hurt too much. "But Mama will have to stay in the car in case he tries to kill her again." White-hot rage fills his veins, and he's clenching his fists so hard that his knuckles are white. The soft tinkling of her laugh pulls him back. The edge is a frightening place, and only she can bring him back. "You're laughing now, Mars? Next you're going to tell me that losing 50 grand was a walk in the park." Her face is guarded now, and he can't blame her. More uncharted territory. Super.

"No of course not, Logan. But we're not talking about the future, here." She smiles, lopsided, and his heart constricts. "Totally easy, fluffy stuff. Nothing serious. Just fun." She leans up into him, tilting his face down to hers, intent on placing a chastely innocent kiss on his lips. As he wraps his arms around her though it is evident that this is anything but flurry.

"I love you, Veronica." He whispers as they break apart, gasping for breath. And as she looks into his eyes she knows that nothing will ever be easy again.

Author's Note: So I know. I haven't updated this story in like, a year. And I'm telling you; updates on this might be sparse, just because I haven't been motivated on it since about the 2nd chapter. I'm being honest. However, this is my last loose end to fix before I start working on my new stuff, so I hope you enjoyed this chapter. I had a really fun time writing it.