Author's Note: First of all, I'm so sorry for just abandoning this story on a cliffhanger. When I realized that there are no plans for a fifth season I went into the dark place with this fic. I'm back now and ready to finish this.

...

Last Time: " What the fuck is this? " He asks holding up the chip that Veronica put on his bike.

" Oh! Umm... " I stammer and he looks at me with a shocked and hurt expression.

Blinking a few times he says, " you mean you did this? "

...

" Can I help you? " She asks.

I nod not really sure. " You have to promise not to tell dad. "

Sitting up she cocks her head. " What? "

" I want you to find my biological parents. "

Chapter Twenty Two

January 10th, 2004

" Excuse me? "

She stares at me blankly for a few moments in shock.

" I want you to find them if only to know who they are. " I say quickly

When she finds her voice she finally says, " dad will freak. "

" Dad doesn't not-know where he comes from. " I say a little too steely. " It's me who has an entire family out there that I never got to know. He must have known this day would come. "

She shakes her head. " Maybe he thought you never would? "

" It's weird I know, but I'm calling in a favor... " I say desperately. " Please. "

" Fine. " She says and I know she means it. " But if I find them you have to tell dad that YOU went looking for them. You know how he feels. "

Oh, I do. Dad has the firm belief that just because you can leave your baby at a police station or firehouse, doesn't mean you should. He just can't imagine anyone not wanting their child.

" I promise I'll tell him everything. He's the least of my worries at this point. " I say heavily thinking about how miserable this whole week has been with Eli not speaking to me.

" Weevil will get over it, Vic. Just give him some time. "

" I don't think it's that simple, V. Bugging his bike showed him that I don't have any trust. He's pissed. "

" But he loves you. Anyone can see that. "

" Somehow I just don't think love is going to be enough for his boys. They won't respect him if they know I was the one that did it and he stayed with me. It shows weakness. "

" I never thought about it that way. Maybe you should stay away. For a while at least. "

" Yeah. It's for the best. "

️ ️ ️ ️

Veronica's POV

The word is out. Our illustrious Guidance Counselor has received a grant to study the effects of adolescence. She's demanding an audience with each student affected by Lilly's death.

I was going to decline, then I had a thought. There is a disturbance outside of the office because a pair of boys race past wearing only ski masks.

" Well, there's something you do not see every day. " I comment boredly.

The guy next to me chuckles. " Yeah. I can not wait to get out of Neptune. "

" MIT, huh? " I ask noting his sweatshirt.

She smirks. " Early admission. "

" Bet you're gonna miss this place when you're gone. " I say sarcastically.

He shakes his head. " Not really. "

" I didn't think so. " I said laughing.

No love for Neptune High.

" Veronica? " Miss James appears, carrying a file. " Sorry to make you wait. Come on in. "

They enter the office and she heads around her desk while I take the chair in front of it.

" Do you remember when we talked last year, right after Lilly's death? You were ... inconsolable. I'm really hoping that this year, you're able to talk about it. " She says as if she knows what I was going through.

This is so not the reason I'm in here for. This woman isn't getting much out of me.

️ ️ ️ ️

Tori's POV

After school, I head right home. With no boyfriend in sight to keep me busy, dad should get a kick out of having me around all of the time. Not that I told him about the breakup. I don't need another " I told you so ".

Putting my bag on the table I go to get an apple from the bowl on the counter.

" There's a message on the machine for you! " Dad calls from his bedroom.

Going over to our landline, I push the red flashing button and listen.

Hello, this is Pearl Trumen at Capital Records. This message is being left for Victoria Mars. An executive was at a performance you did a couple of months ago. He'd like to speak with you when you have a chance. The number is 555-8974. Ask for Steve Barnett. Thank you and have a musical day.

My mouth must be on the floor right now. " Oh. My. God. "

" Lucy you have some splaining to do, " Dad says from behind me.

Turning around I face the intense glare of Keith Mars. How did I not think the whole L.A. trip would blow up in my face like this?

Who cares I might get a record deal, baby!

️ ️ ️ ️

L.A.

It took three days, but I finally got dad to agree to a meeting with Capitol Records. I'm so excited! And it comes at the perfect time too. There's nothing holding me back in Neptune so if they offer me a deal I'm taking it. Eli has made it clear that it's over so I don't feel bad.

Walking up to the receptionist I give my name and we're escorted to a waiting room. It's really nice in here. All cream and beige.

" I can't believe we're here right now. " I say taking it all in.

Dad shakes his head. " I shouldn't have let you come, let alone drive you. "

" We both agreed that this is an opportunity I can't pass. " I remind him.

He waves me off but says nothing else. I get it, he's worried. A dad doesn't like the unknown especially when it comes to daughters. If I get signed there's going to be a lot of unknowns for him. That's a big if.

" Miss Mars? "

" Here. " I say like I'm at school.

" I'm Vivian Mr. Barnett's assistant. He's ready for you. "

We are escorted into a huge office and come face to face with Mr. Barnett. " Hello, there. You must be Victoria. And this is? "

" My dad. " I say motioning towards him.

I am sweating like a pig right now.

" Keith Mars, it's nice to meet you. " My dad says and they shake hands.

It looks like a firm shake so they must be sizing each other up.

" You as well, please take a seat. " We do and he goes around his desk to do the same. " Let's get right into it. I was sent a recording of your performance at the Whiskey A Go Go. How did such a young girl even get into a place like that? "

He wants specifics? Great, sorry dad. " Well... A couple of months before that I was in a guitar shop and met Slash from Guns N Roses. He heard me play and invited me to the open mic night. He put my name on the list. "

I can already feel my dad's fury on the side of me but he hides it well.

" I see. Well, he must have seen the potential in you that I do. Tell me, did you write that song? " Mr. Barnett asks.

Nodding I say, " yes. I wrote it last year sometime. "

" That's really impressive. You have a real songwriting gift. What's the name of the song? " He asks as he writes some notes down.

I never really gave it one, but it's self-explanatory. " Hollow. "

He nods approvingly. " Have you written others? "

" Oh yeah, I have notebooks full of lyrics. " I say motioning toward my bag.

I brought them with me just in case. Being prepared for something like this is imperative. I only have one shot to get this right.

" Miss Mars, I'm going to lay the cards on the table. I want to sign you to Capitol Records. " He says seriously.

I'm dreaming. Did he really just say that? I'm speechless.

" We've had a contract already drawn u- " He says but gets interrupted.

Of course, my dad would do this now. " Before my daughter signs anything I'd like to have our lawyer take a look at the contract. "

" Of course. I wouldn't want you to think we're trying to take advantage. I mean it when I say that Victoria has a promising future in music should she choose to go this route. " He says sincerely.

Nodding he says, " thank you. " He then put the contract in his briefcase.

" Have it looked over and give us a call whether it's to your satisfaction or not. This is just opening negotiations. " He says getting back up.

Dad nods. " Thank you. "

" Yes, thank you for your time, sir. " I say not believing what just happened in the span of ten minutes.

️ ️ ️ ️

Veronica's POV

Now that I'm suspended for " selling fake I.D.'s " I have a lot of time on my hands to listen in on Miss James' grief counseling. It's Weevil's turn on the hot seat and I'm actually shocked that he was called in at all. How did he know Lily?

" To tell you the truth, I I really don't remember that week. "

" You don't remember being in this office? You slammed the chair against the wall, Eli. The last time we met, it seemed like Lilly's death had affected you in quite a profound way. "

" Well, yeah. I was know the same day Lilly Kane died a little girl went missing in my neighborhood. They found her body three months later. Where were the cameras when she's missing? Where was the grief counseling for her? "

" What happened to Marisol Reyes was a tragedy, Eli. People do care. But right now I just wanna talk about Lilly, okay? "

" Well, then why don't you call some of her rich, white friends in here? "

" I want you to listen to something. It's a letter you wrote. " You tore my heart out. You can act like what we had together meant nothing to you but you can't stop me from loving you. For the rest of your life, wherever you go, I'll always be there just out of sight in the shadows " ".

" You know, I don't remember cc'ing you on that. "

" Lilly wanted to be transferred out of your PE class last year. She was having trouble with a boy. She gave me these to prove it. "

" I never would have hurt her. Look, the cops already rubbed my nose in those letters, so, what? "

Lilly and Weevil?

" Look, Eli, I didn't bring you in here to embarrass you. I invited you in here to talk about why you wrote these things. "

" Her and Logan had just broken up. And Lilly Lilly swore to me that she'd never go back to him, but then one day, that punk snaps his fingers, and all of a sudden it's like Like we don't even know each other anymore. It's She was someone I could've loved. You know? And she felt it too.I know she did. "

Why didn't Lilly tell me about him? Was Weevil her big secret? Does Tori know?

️ ️ ️ ️

Tori's POV

When we get back to Neptune we head straight to Mars Investigations. I can't wait to tell Ronnie about the meeting we had. When we get in we find Cliff waiting.

" What's going on Cliff? Where's Veronica? "

" She's supposed to meet me here... " Cliff says looking nervous.

Dad isn't a detective for nothing and calls him out. " What's going on? The truth. "

...

My sister, the criminal. Who would have thunk it? Just playing, I know damned well she is innocent in this.

" Sorry, Cliff, I'm late. " Ronnie says rushing in hurriedly just as dad comes out of the kitchen. She freezes. " Hi, Dad... Their case is fuzzy and circumstantial. "

He shakes his head before saying, " you know the odd thing? Those were also her very first words. "

" I think I've got a good lead on who's making the fake IDs. " She says already on the case. " It's a secret society at school called the Tritons. Rick told me that he was bullied into turning me in. I'm positive they set the blanks in my locker. "

Dad sighs. " Look, Veronica, the criminal case is the least of our problems.- Tim's parents are suing.- "

" Us? " She asks in enough shock for the both of us.

Cliff nods. " And pretty much everyone else involved in their son's night of debauchery. Every bar in town is gonna be named in the suit. The thing could be worth millions. "

Well damn.

Author's Note: Whew! There's a lot going on in the Mars family right now. Let me know what you think!