Diclaimers - don't own em. much to my dismay... if i did Logan and V would always be together.
Present Day:
"So when was the next time you were together?" Leo stood up and got a drink of water before sitting back down.
"Three years after the wedding, the year of our five-year reunion." Madison Sinclair looked every bit the part of an washed-up has-been model.
"So you and the victim didn't really get along and you were a bit witchy." Leo looked at some of his notes as he spoke.
"That was high school detective… things change and I was witch to everyone back then." Madison let a cigarette and started puffing away.
"So you all went your five-year reunion?" Leo wondered if they all went to the gathering.
"No we did something else…" Madison leaned back in her chair and took another long drag from her cigarette…
Three Years Later (after the wedding):
The sun was shining… the grill was sizzling… the pool was sparkling and laughing, talking and general merriment was coming from the backyard of a nice sized house in Neptune. To anyone who graduated with these people the sight would be surreal. The group decided instead of going to their reunion they would all meet for an all-day barbeque held at Logan and Veronica's Neptune home.
Duncan Kane came walking into the backyard, he was the last to arrive. It had been along time since he actually saw any of them. In-fact the only one he talked to since the wedding was Meg and that was only because of Jesse.
Meg was setting some food out on a big picnic table… Wallace was in the pool with a now five year old Jesse looking every bit the part of a devoted father…
Dick and Mac, who had been dating for the past year were over in their own corner just talking….
Cassidy was talking to a malnourished looking Madison. But it was another sight that made Duncan's heart stop, one he knew he would never get over.
Logan was manning the grill and Veronica was standing close to Logan with a little boy about one on her slender hip. Duncan watched as Logan effortlessly took his little look-alike into his arms kissing all over the boy's face as laughter just bubbled out of the boy. Veronica smiled, kissed Logan tenderly before she walked toward Meg but not before Logan playfully had slapped her on the butt. Duncan was about to turn and leave when Veronica saw him.
"Duncan, you made it!" she said cheerfully as she jogged over to him and gave him a quick friendly hello hug.
Logan was right behind her, still holding their son, Paul in his arms.
"Come here my sweet babe. Lets go see Uncle Wallace while daddy talks to Duncan." Veronica took Paul and started toward where Jesse and Wallace were drying off from their swim. Jesse was eager to see the father she rarely saw… in-fact hardly saw him other then pictures, e-mails, and a sometimes phone call.
"So I hear you took over for Jake, congratulations man." Logan said as Duncan followed him back to the grill. Duncan watched as Logan flipped the burgers and hot dogs, it was weird seeing Logan Echolls of all people so domesticated.
"What about you?" Duncan wondered what Logan had been up to since the last time they had spoken, which was right after Logan and Veronica's wedding.
"Wrote a few short stories for a few magazines… I'm working on my first book right now. Aaron left me enough money so me and Veronica really don't have to work." Logan said of his father who had died in a prison a year and half beforehand.
"Ronnie does freelance photography mostly, but right now we're more interested in being there for all of Paul's firsts." Logan was obviously nothing like either of his parents.
A small bonfire sparkled later that night as the group settled around it. Keith and Alicia Mars had come and gotten the kid earlier that day to give the parents a break and everyone had decided to just spend the night in the large Echolls house.
Veronica watched as Madison downed another bottle of beer… more then anyone normally drinks. When Madison got up to go inside, Veronica followed her. Veronica found her rummaging through the cupboards in the kitchen.
"We don't keep alcohol in the house and me and Logan stopped drinking awhile ago." Veronica stated and Madison jumped a little at the sound of another voice.
"My mom was a drunk, did you know that? I begged her to get help, she never did… and finally it killed her… she died alone in the back alley of a two-bit bar." Veronica stated flatly and Madison's face paled as the shorter woman spoke.
"We're not close and some may even say were closer to being enemies, but when and if you ever want my help… rather it be talking, or shopping, or someone to be there when you decide to get help… whatever I'll be there cause no deserves to go through anything like that alone." Veronica added before leaving the girl alone in the kitchen.
Duncan set on the chair next to his open window. Suddenly he heard someone knocking and Veronica's voice. He realized that her and Logan's bedroom window was right next to his and their window was open as well.
"I was hoping it was you…" she laughed as she opened her bedroom door and saw Logan standing there with a mischievous grin.
"And who else may I ask would it be?" Logan deadpanned as he shut their bedroom door behind him with his foot as he neared closer to Veronica.
"Pool boy." Veronica replied sarcastically with a glint in her eye that she only gave to Logan.
"Okay, that settles in I'm firing Ricardo first thing tomorrow." Logan played along before he pulled Veronica and started to kiss on her neck.
"And what may I ask are you doing?" Veronica giggled before a breathy moan left her small body.
"Trying to get you pregnant." Logan joked before he turned his attention back to her neck.
Duncan closed his window and left his room…he wanted fresh air without hearing Logan and Veronica's 'happy' marriage in the next room.
Duncan thought he'd be alone, so he was surprised to find Madison dangling her feet in the shallow end of the pool.
"So, I know why I'm out here. What about you?" Duncan wondered as he set down next to her.
"I just cancelled all my agreements for the next six weeks and I'm going to check myself into rehab in two days." Madison said matter-of-factly and was shocked when she felt Duncan take her hand in his own.
"I leave in three days for Paris for a year and I haven't had the guts to tell anyone yet…" he informed her that he was moving for a while.
"And my room is right next to Veronica and Logan's… and let me tell ya having a kid hasn't slowed them down." Madison's laugh filled the night air after he said it.
"Well, lets show 'em what we can do." Madison's mouth was over Duncan's before he could even react. Duncan felt himself deepening the kiss as Madison crawled onto his lap.
'Me and Duncan had a very memorable night… then I said goodbye to my wild parties and overuse of everything and entered rehab and Duncan was off to Paris to expand Kane Software…
Logan's book got published and was a best-seller… Veronica's pictures got featured in a LA although to them watching Paul take his first steps was way more important then any lists or galleries…
Meg still balanced work, law school, and Jesse but now she had a roommate, Wallace by her side... Wallace got picked for a pro basketball team in LA right after our reunion…
Dick was balancing med-school and actually having his first adult grown-up relationship. Which for Dick Casablancas was a feat in it's self… and sweet Cassidy started his new job as a social worker in the streets of LA although I don't he was really ready for all he was going to see…'
TBC - feedback welcomed