A/N – Here's another part. Sorry it's going so slowly.

XII.

"I don't know about you, but this feels extremely surreal."

"What's your problem, Dali?" Veronica replied to Logan who was studying opposite her.

"This." Logan gestured with his hands around the room. "You, me, your bedroom. Not to mention that an hour ago this room was plastered with photos by an, as yet, unknown intruder...Surreal, you know." Veronica shrugged his shoulders. She had spent nearly two years building up a reputation of being cool and calm in all situations. Yes, it had cracked a little this afternoon, but she was back on track.

"Hey, a girl has to study. And if I must suffer the torture of a grade-based curriculum, than so must you." They had been laying opposite each other in her bedroom for the last half hour. For the first half hour, they had been knocking on doors around Veronica's apartment building, asking if anyone had seen someone hanging around the Mars' door. Either this guy was pretty good or no-one was willing to get involved.

Logan had been wanting to broach the subject for the last ten minutes, but Veronica seemed to have put a wall up. He understood it, he just didn't like it. But what could he expect. They had only been friends again for two days, and he'd already slept on her couch. He didn't want to push Veronica too much. With Duncan treating him the way he was, he cherished anyone that had the time of day for him.

"Where'd you go just then?" Veronica asked, looking amused. Logan blinked and looked back at her.

"I was thinking that since I was already in your bedroom we could...well, you could start by modeling that bra over there." Veronica blushed when she craned her head around to see the aforementioned bra hanging off the wardrobe door handle. She faced Logan again and threw her pencil at him.

"Pig."

"Oww, how I suffer the slings and arrows of a Mars woman. Anyway, you asked." Logan rubbed his hand where the pencil had stung him.

"Yes, my fault. I forgot who I was talking to."

They both heard the rattle of keys in the front door and jumped up. Keith walked in and nearly dropped his bag when he saw Logan and Veronica emerging from her room. Veronica rushed up to give her dad a hug.

"Welcome back, old man." Keith stopped staring at Logan and turned his attention to Veronica.

"Do I want to know what the two of you are up too?" Veronica smiled.

"Well, we were about to have sex, but Logan here forgot to bring a condom. We were just about to raid your stash." Keith shook his head at his daughter and watched as Logan turned the darkest shade of red that he had ever seen.

"I see my daughter's up to her old tricks again," Keith said to Logan in an attempt to make him feel a little more comfortable.

"They're not tricks, Dad. I don't ask for money, Logan just offered to pay."

"Oh, god," Logan groaned. Veronica turned and smiled at him.

"Hey, Logan. It's good to see you," Keith spoke as he stepped forward and shook Logan's hand.

"You too, Mr. Mars."

"Just call me Keith."

"Okay, Keith."

"Umm, Dad." Veronica interrupted. "Could I talk to you for a moment?" She began pulling him into his room.

"Logan, could you start chopping some carrots? Thanks." Veronica didn't wait for his answer as she closed her dad's door. Keith looked at her daughter questioningly.

"What's going on, sweetie?" He asked knowingly.

"Umm...Logan's staying here tonight...on the couch." Veronica searched her father's face for a reaction.

"And why is that, honey?"

"Well, you see...he's having a hard time lately. You know...with his father...and everything. He can't stay in his house...memories...and I found him at the Camelot...where he obviously can't stay..." Veronica would have kept on rambling if her father hadn't put his hand on her shoulder to quieten her.

"I understand, Veronica. I respect that you're helping out a friend. But you know that he can't stay here forever, right?"

"I know that. I spoke to Wallace today, and he's talking to his mother tonight about their apartment." Keith nodded his head and headed towards the door.

"Okay, but he's definitely on the couch."

"Definitely," Veronica said as they walked back into the kitchen to see Logan chopping carrots. Keith walked up to him and slapped him on the shoulder.

"Veronica's told me of your intentions and if it wasn't for the fact of the baby due, I'd be cutting your fingers off with that knife." Logan dropped the knife and a carrot rolled off onto the floor.

"What, sir...Mr. Mars...I mean...Keith?"

"Dad, you know not to scare the help." Veronica smiled as she stood on the other side of Logan. He looked between the two Mars' and then shook his head.

"You two are trying to kill me." Keith laughed at Logan's words.

"Naah...Just messing with you. She's the one that made you chop vegetables." He looked over at Veronica. "Honey, why do we even have carrots in the fridge?" She shrugged her shoulders.

"Well, I vote for burgers. My treat." Keith said. "Come on, Logan. Let's go get a man's meal."

Logan smiled. He had missed the easy conversation of a loving family. 'Hell, what am I thinking. The only time I've experienced things like this has been on TV.'

"I could go for a bit of meat," Logan answered.

"No, my boy. We don't have a bit of meat. We have a tower of meat." Keith put his arm around Logan's shoulders and led him to the front door.

"Goddamn testosterone," Veronica muttered as she followed behind.

ooooooooooooooo

Weevil punched Jeff Stintson in the face one last time. Jeff was sitting in one of Marty's kitchen chairs with his legs and hands tied up.

"You're lucky I'm holding back. You wait until Donnie gets here."

ooooooooooooooo