A/N: Okay so I did chapter two pretty quickly but it is a lot shorter, A LOT. Which probably isn't a bad thing as the first did drag on a bit, but you know so much happened in that episode that it had to be put in, even if it wasn't all LoVe but this one is, apart from one scene between Meg and Duncan and they may occasionally be thrown in from time to time, 'cos I love Meg which is why I didn't kill her. Um, what else, I wanna thank all the people, again, who reviewed, I got all excited when I saw people had actually reviewed and said nice things, okay now I'm dragging on, so I'm gonna stop.

Disclaimer: Yes I own Veronica Mars, and it was my idea to put Veronica back with Duncan. C'mon are you kidding me? I own nothing.

At the Hut, a display of cakes and pies is being considered by Veronica, bent down at the door to the refrigerated unit.

VERONICA VOICEOVER: If a school bus, traveling forty miles per hour…

Veronica takes one of the pies and brings it up to the counter.

VERONICA VOICEOVER: …drives off a cliff and plunges ninety feet into the jagged coastline…

She places a slice of pie onto a plate.

VERONICA VOICEOVER: ...how many seconds did the five high school students, their teacher, and bus driver have to contemplate the fact that they're about to die?

Veronica grabs the pie and the slice. She puts the pie back in the unit.

VERONICA VOICEOVER: Two Mississippi's worth of screams, life flashes, and prayers, maybe?

Veronica hands the plate over to one of the waitresses. Logan descends the stairs into the coffee shop as Veronica settles at the front desk.

VERONICA: Hey, how're you doing?
LOGAN: Fine, I'm more worried about you.

Veronica turns and addresses the waitress.

VERONICA: Hey, Cindy. I'm gonna take my break. Can you watch the front?
CINDY: Okay.

Veronica takes Logan's hand and leads him over to behind the counter.

LOGAN: You have to stop thinking about what happened.
VERONICA: I can't, we could have been on that bus – we should've been.
LOGAN: But we weren't, that's not a crime; this is nobody's fault, just a freak accident.

Unnoticed by both, Jackie Cook, imperious and impatient, approaches the counter, arms folded. She listens with barely disguised disdain.

VERONICA: with disbelief if it wasn't for Dick, we'd be at the bottom of the ocean too, and that scares me.
LOGAN: I would never let anything happen to you.

Veronica worries her necklace.

VERONICA: That might actually be true.

Jackie huffs and leans forward, trying to attract attention.

VERONICA: If I wasn't with you, I wouldn't have gone in the limo; I'd have been on the bus.

Jackie clears her throat loudly. Veronica and Logan give her their attention.

JACKIE: When you guys are done breaking up, can I get a macchiato?
VERONICA: I'm actually just the hostess, but I c--
JACKIE: Look, I don't care if you're the house magician. Can you just make me a macchiato?

Veronica walks closer to the counter, staring at Jackie. She holds out her hands and makes a "Poof" gesture.

VERONICA: You're a macchiato.

Logan smiles and Veronica turns her back on Jackie, who looks at Logan.

JACKIE: You know you can do better, right?

Veronica swings her head back round, seriously offended while Logan just stares at her like WTF?

A couple of days later at school, Veronica is at her open locker. Ashley Banks is a couple of lockers along, opening it and talking cheerfully to an 09er friend.

ASHLEY: At least everyone we know got off the bus.

Veronica looks over at her, disbelieving.

ASHLEY: snidely Just shows that fate is on the side of those with money.

Ashley's friend giggles. Veronica, looking upset, closes her locker then grabs the door of Ashley's locker, which Ashley has just opened, slamming it shut and storming past her.

ASHLEY: What a bitch!

Veronica is clearly pissed off as she walks quickly up the hall and finds Logan. He puts his arm around her and walks with her.

LOGAN: Hey. Been looking for ya.

He notices that she seems upset.

LOGAN: Hey, what's wrong? He stops her. Hey, talk to me.

Veronica doesn't respond.

LOGAN: seriously Come on Ronnie tell me what's wrong.

Veronicas face softens and she turns to look at Logan.

VERONICA: Nothing, just bitchy girls who think the world revolves around them.

Logan relaxes a little, thinking it's nothing serious.

LOGAN: Yeah, well what else is new? So, Dicks decided that he's gonna throw his Life Short party at my house, 'cos his step-mum doesn't want the house trashed, is that ok?

Veronica's eyes fill with anger again.

VERONICA: How can you even think about a party right now? God Logan!

Veronica storms off and Logan just stares after her.

Later on that day, Meg and Duncan are sitting at a table in the eating area. Duncan is being kind of distant.

MEG: out of the blue Duncan are you only back together with me because of 'you know what'?

DUNCAN: finally paying attention what? No, of course not. I asked you back before I found out, it has nothing to do with me being with you.

Meg lets out a relieved sigh and Duncan kisses her hand lightly.

MEG: I'm so happy you said that. And you're still okay with my decision though aren't you, I mean I know it's a big deal but I really think it's the only option.

DUNCAN: I'm sure your parents wouldn't agree.

MEG: Well they don't have any say, only we do.

Meg smiles at Duncan and he gives her a tight smile back.

At the same time, Logan approaches his car and sees Veronica who is waiting for him.

VERONICA: I'm a bitch.
LOGAN: I know the party probably isn't the best idea but it won't be that bad and it'll get you to stop thinking about everything, even if it's only for a night.
VERONICA: I know. I know you've only been trying to help and I love you for it.

Veronica pulls him into a kiss and then hugs him.

VERONICA: It's just I have all these conflicting emotions, you know? The two main ones being grief, for everyone who died and everyone who lost someone. And the one that kills me, joy, because I'm alive and you're alive. And by all rights, we probably shouldn't be.
LOGAN: Veronica, it's good that you're grieving for everyone, it just shows what an enormous heart you have and how selfless you are, but you're also allowed to feel joy because there is nothing wrong with being happy you're alive.
VERONICA: Thank you.

Veronica smiles and Logan pulls her back into a hug, rubbing his hands up and down her back.

Veronica has been watching the conversation between Jessie, the girl she was helping, and Carla, the women who was having an affair with her dad, the bus driver.

CARLA: Now, I wish I was…less understanding, because I never really got to be with the man that I loved.

VERONICA VOICEOVER: You know the charge that goes up your spine at moment of epiphany? It just hit me. I'm not gonna let the list of things I want to do before I die turn into a list of regrets.

Logan opens his front door and grins.

LOGAN: Hey, what're you doing here?

Veronica, nearly in tears, runs into his arms and holds him tightly. Logan is surprised but holds her back just as tightly.

LOGAN: Veronica, what's wrong?

Veronica kisses Logan urgently. As their desperation mounts, Logan lifts Veronica up and she wraps her legs around his waist. As they continue to passionately kiss Logan moves to take Veronica upstairs. When they get to his room he places her down on the bed and for the first time breaks contact as he straightens up to take off his shirt, while Veronica does the same. Logan then stands over her staring down, making sure she's sure, without breaking eye contact Veronica reaches up and pulls him down by his necklace and Logan falls down on top of her. A long while later Veronica and Logan fall back in exhaustion Veronica moves to put her head on his chest, both have contented smiles.

VERONICA: Well, that was … interesting.

LOGAN: Interesting?

VERONICA: Okay, incredible, phenomenal and every other glowing adjective under the sun.

Logan gets a cocky grin which Veronica notices.

VERONICA: Oh great, and now I've made your ego even bigger.

LOGAN: Hey!

VERONICA: Well at least I'm saying something; you are yet to make any comment.

LOGAN: smiling It was perfect. I love you.

He twists to kiss her on the head. Smiling, Veronica snuggles up into his chest. Later as Logan sleeps, Veronica, up and fully dressed, moves over to him and kisses him on the head. She turns to leaves but Logan grabs her hand.

LOGAN: Oh, so that's it huh, you use me and then leave?

He pulls her down to him and starts kissing her.

VERONICA: while Logan is still kissing her I have about fifteen minutes 'til my dad activates the homing device in my molar.

LOGAN: And that would be bad, right?

VERONICA: Yes, very bad.

LOGAN: Well then I guess you better skedaddle.

VERONICA: Mm, thank you. She kisses him Love you, bye.

As she walks out the door Logan puts his arms behind his head and leans back, smiling happily.

End

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