Veronica let herself back into the house, feeling surprisingly lighter at heart after her emotional purge, and relieved that the only living creatures who witnessed it were the same ones now running around the living room in circles, wagging their tails. Hearing sounds of life coming from the kitchen, she made her way there, stopping in the doorway to appreciate the comical sight of her father wrestling with a giant turkey.

"My money's on you, Mars. He's no match for you."

Keith looked up briefly and grimaced. The turkey just didn't want to fit into the refridgerator. Veronica silently came up beside him to give him a hand, and the two of them, after much pushing and maneuvering, managed to shove the bird into the fridge and shut the door.

"Is the Russian Army coming for dinner again, or did the store run out of normal sized turkeys?" she asked as she got a glass of water.

"Alicia was convinced that the boys could each eat a small bird on their own, and tht we needed an industrial-sized one to feed them all."

"Dad, I know Darrell's growing, but he can't possibly eat that much. Even with you and Wallace helping out."

"Where's your faith in your old man? I can still hold my own! Besides, Logan loves Alicia's turkey."

Veronica fell silent. Somehow, impossibly, she'd failed to connect the dots when her father had said 'boys'.

"Honey, are you angry with me for letting him come?"

Veronica looked up at her father. She couldn't be surprised that he'd been thinking that, but she was surprised that he asked. Logan was one subject they carefully dodged. She sighed.

"No, I'm not angry with you. I'm not even sure that I'm angry. I…I don't know what I think anymore. But I am surprised that you agreed to it...and that you didn't warn me sooner. I thought we agreed not to keep secrets from each other anymore."

"Are you going to throw turkey at me if I try to explain?"

"There's no way I'm trying to pick up that bird again. But I reserve the right to throw cranberries at you."

Keith sat across from her, and took her hand in his. "Honey, I know you're happy in Chicago. And I'm proud of everything you're doing with your life. But I hate that you loathe Neptune so much, and I know that Logan's part of the reason why."

"You know that I loathe Logan, so you invite him for Thanksgiving? Interesting logic, O Wise One."

"I don't think you really do."

"Don't think I really what?"

"Loathe Logan."

"And you have a theory about what I really feel for him and you're dying to share it?"

"Ready to be impressed by your old man's intellect and deductive reasoning?"

"Fire away, old man."

"Now, I know there's a lot about you and Logan that I don't know. And, with me being the father and you being the daughter, really don't want to hear about. But here's how I see it: You needed to leave Neptune in order to put Lilly's murder and all the aftermath behind you. Right?"

"Right."

"Right. Logical, rational decision. Behind you 100. But here's the problem: Logan is the only person in your life, other than me, that still connects you to the way things were before Lilly's murder. Now, you can't cut ties with me, because I'm a P.I. and can track you down. But you can cut ties with Logan. So you did. How am I doing?"

"Spot on. So where's the problem? I see no problem?"

"The problem is that when you cut ties with Logan, you left everything between you unresolved. And as long as there are loose ends, you can't really put it all behind you, can you? And if you can't fully put it behind you, you can't truly move on."

"So you invited Logan Echolls for Thanksgiving dinner so that I can put him behind me with everything else. Devious plan."

Keith paused briefly. Looking at his daughter, he wondered how someone so bright and perceptive about other people could be so blind about her own life.

"If putting him behind you is what you need to do, then do it, honey."

"If?"

"I'm just saying that maybe you don't have to cut him out of your life in order to move on."

"Are we still talking about Logan Echolls? The same guy you repeatedly warned to stay away from me? The one you slammed against a wall, after I'd already broken up with him?"

"Are you still the same person you were in high school?"

"Do I have to answer that?"

"Then maybe he's not the same kid either."

With the fates, her friends, and her family all conspiring to rob her of whatever peace of mind she had achieved in the past few years, Veronica decided to get out of the house and go off in search of peace and quiet. After five minutes of driving around, she gave up the attempt. Seeing an open flower shop, inspiration struck. It was time for her to pay a special visit. One she should have made a long time ago.