So as a sort of holiday thing, I've been writing short little ficlets for a bunch of friends and people from various boards and communities. Some of them are for VM, so I figured I might as well post them here too :) Basically what it was is that I had 100 lyrics from songs here and there, and they would pick three of them, tell me what shows they wanted... :) Since they're all one-shot ficlets, and I have a lot of them for VM, I figured I'd just put them in one 'story' here at Okay, I think I've babbled long enough, on with the stories :)

Title: And I know, I'm not ready...
Author: moonie
Pairing/Character:Keith Mars
Word Count: 486
Rating: G
Summary: Set in the Wrath of Con flashbacks

I returned home from work late the night before. Lianne was already in bed, sleeping. Veronica wasn't home yet, but with this dance, I wasn't surprised. I grabbed something to eat and settled down in front of the television, still in my uniform.

The next thing I knew, I was awakened by the phone. I must have dozed off; I looked at the clock and it was almost five in the morning.

"Hello?" I cleared my throat before speaking.

"Keith, it's Jake Kane. Listen… Duncan and Lilly haven't returned yet. I spoke with Lynn Echolls and neither has Logan. Is Veronica there?" I looked back, finding a barely awake Lianne yawning and tying her robe as she gave me an inquisitive look. I went to Veronica's room and looked in. Her bed was empty, undisturbed.

"She's not there either. Look, I'll come over and we'll figure things out."

"Okay, see you then," Jake spoke before hanging up.

"What's going on?" Lianne asked as she saw me go for my jacket and keys.

"The kids haven't come home yet. I'm going over to the Kanes' call if Veronica comes home?"

"Okay," she nodded nervously.

"It's probably nothing," I reassured her.

"I-I know…" she nodded. "Go on."

I left, getting into my car and starting toward the Kane residence. The whole time, I had to work to convince myself that it would be all right, despite the fact that I wasn't all too sure of this. In the years of her life, I had lived with the blind faith that nothing would go astray as far as my daughter was concerned.

But lately, I had to face the facts. My little Veronica wasn't so little anymore. She was this little woman now, and deep down it was a scary thought. She was growing up, with this whole world around her that I couldn't understand. It wasn't like before, when we could spend so much time together.

Now she had Duncan, Lilly, Logan… It was there, it was real… she was changing. I'd brace myself, tell myself that it had to happen, but I couldn't let it go.

When I got to Jake and Celeste's, they let me in, we had quiet coffee… Things had always been this way between us and the Kanes. It didn't matter that our families were tied this way, there was always this boundary. None of us spoke of it though.

We stood looking out the windows for some time before the limousine was finally visible up ahead. We filed out to go stand in wait. The car came to a stop, soon depositing Lilly, Duncan, Logan, and my Veronica. Still so sweet, innocent, how could it have been so long since she would wrap her tiny fingers around one of my own and stare at me with the wonder of a new life? It was a frightening concept I was loathe to entertain.

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