Title: Home Sweet Home

Author: SWChick57

Pairing/Character: Logan/OC Friendship, LoVe eventually, a little V/D, Beaver/OC, Ensemble

Word Count: 1,023

Rating: PG-13

Summary: Carly Hayes is a freshman at Neptune High, and she's an old family friend of the Echolls Family. Slight AU. Season 2.

Disclaimer: I do not own Veronica Mars, Rob Thomas does. Though I wish I owned Logan… Oh well!

November 3, 2002

"Logan, I'm going to miss you," 11-year-old Carly Hayes said quietly as her family finished loading the cab. Her short black/brown hair covered her face as she looked down at the ground. They were on their way to the airport. They were going to fly in their private jet. They were moving to North Carolina because of her pregnant older sister, Cecilia. Her parents thought it would be better for her to have the baby someplace else, a place where they could get less media attention. They still kept the house though, just in case they wanted to return to Neptune.

The Hayes Family is apart of high society. Mark Hayes, Carly and Cecilia's father, is the president of the prestigious "Hayes Cosmetics", a company that's known for their high quality cosmetics. Their grandmother, Patricia Hayes, started the company. Julia Hayes, Carly and Cecilia's mother, was a Hayes Cosmetics model. That's how their parents met.

Julia Hayes's best friend was Lynn Echolls, another Hayes Cosmetics model. After Julia got married they moved next door to the Echolls Family. That's how it was. The Echolls Family and the Hayes Family, two of the picture perfect families of America. Every housewife dreamed that their own family could compare to them, but not everything is as perfect as they seem.

"Yeah, Carly, me too," 14-year-old Logan Echolls said sadly. Carly was like his little sister. He's known Carly and her family forever. He went to high school with her older sister, Cecilia. She was an 09er with a soul. Cecilia Hayes was also one of Logan's close friends. She was a senior, while he was only a mere freshman. Cecilia didn't ignore Logan at school, though. They were good friends, but there are some things that Cecilia could never tell Logan.

They both stared at the ground for a few more seconds then Mr. Hayes yelled, "Carly, we have to go now, or we're going to miss our flight!"

"I'm coming dad," she said back. "Did your parents say good-bye to my parents yet?" Carly asked.

"Yeah, they said good-bye earlier," he answered not looking up once.

"Oh, well, I guess this is good-bye for now," she said still staring at the ground.

"Yeah, I guess it is," Logan said now focusing on his skateboard. That summer he started teaching Carly how to ride a skateboard. He said that she would be the best skateboarder ever, once he was done teaching her. It's funny how things don't end up the way you plan.

"Hey you two," Cecilia said walking up to them. Her beautiful features and her captivating eyes were hard to miss. Her long black hair was in a sleek ponytail. She was still a little skinny, but she knew that would change soon. She was 3 months pregnant, and she didn't even seem worried. She was leaving everything she knew. Everything she loved, and all she could was smile. She never told her parents who the father was. She didn't even tell Logan or Carly. It was just one big secret, and the press would love it.

"Bye Logan. I'm really going to miss you. Don't be such an asshole," Cecilia said pulling Logan for a good-bye hug.

"Don't worry, I won't." he said trying to hold back tears. "Hey call me and tell me if it's a boy or a girl," he said letting go of her.

"Oh, don't worry I will," she smiled. "Come on Carly, let's go," she said walking back to the cab.

"Oh and ah Cecilia?" he said as she was walking away.

"Yeah Logan?" she said stopping dead in her tracks as she turned around.

"If it is boy, name him Logan Rad Dude Hayes," he said smirking.

"In your dreams, Echolls, in your dreams." She shot back smiling as she walked to the cab.

"Bye Logan," Carly said as she hugged him good-bye.

"Bye Care Bear," he said hugging her tighter, not wanting to let go.

Finally they let go of each other. As Carly was walking away, Logan looked at his skateboard. Then he knew what to do.

"Hey Carly! Wait!" he called out. She turned around.

He ran to where she was and handed her his skateboard. "Here, take this" he said.

"Oh, Logan! No, I can't! It's yours, you love this skateboard," she said trying to give it back.

"Please, I giving this to you. It's to remember me. Please take it. I'm giving this to you. It's yours now." He said smiling.

She smiled as she jumped up to kiss him on the cheek. "Thanks, bye." She smiled walking away clutching the skateboard close.

"Bye," he said quietly to himself as he watched the yellow cab drive out of the driveway… and out of his life.

Present 3 years later

"Carly, Carly wake up!" her mother said lightly shaking her. She opened her eyes to see that the jet had landed. Her mother smiled seeing Carly was awake. Her mother had Dakota sleeping beside her.

Dakota Lorraine Hayes is Cecilia's daughter. She's only 2 years old. Cecilia died during childbirth. It was on the front page of every magazine, tabloid, and newspaper everywhere. Carly will always remember when they put her sister in the ground. Her dead limp body in a casket for all to see. It was like torture. A year later, her parents started fighting. They fought about Dakota every single day. Only a few months ago, Carly's parents got a divorce. Her mother, Carly, and Dakota were on their way back to their old house in Neptune.

"Come on Carly, it's time we go home" she said smiling picking up Dakota.

"Yeah, it's time to go home," Carly said smiling getting up. She was ready to go home.