Veronica

I don't know what time it is. Or what day it is for that matter. All I know and care about is that I'm still in Logan's arms, held tightly to his chest, the covers pulled almost over my head, making me feel like I'm in a wonderful, safe cocoon. I'm content for now to listen to him breathe and feel the radiating warmth of his body next to mine.

Dean O'Dell dropped us off at our dorm, just after midnight. He'd been called to the Regional Security Systems building in downtown Chicago to verify some facts surrounding the bombings, make record of my assault on school property, and discuss the activities of C.H.A.D. on campus. When they were done with us, the Dean volunteered to take us home, and he informed us on the ride that they were cancelling classes for one week, to allow students and faculty time to process the tragedy.

They allowed Logan to stay with me while I gave them the details of what we knew about C.H.A.D. and Gory Sorokin, Duncan's confessions about the fake bomb and the real bomb, and our knowledge of how Stosh Piznarski played a part in everything. On just the assault details alone, they had enough to put Duncan away in jail for at least 10 years—once he had his day in court. The bombing would take more time to prove, but a conviction would mean a life sentence in the radiation zone. Or as much of a life as he would have after the exposure.

When we got home, we each showered, separately, giving us each a chance to privately lick our wounds. My bruised wrists pulsed under the flow of the hot water and I quickly turned off the taps, unable to look at them anymore. It was bad enough that they were photographed by the investigators. I now had to live with the image of them, and how it happened, in my head for the rest of my life. By the time Logan came out of his shower, I was already half asleep in one of his t-shirts as he slipped into bed with me in only his sweatpants, his half-naked body pressing against mine as he murmured good night.

Now, he stirs, his arms tightening around me as he mutters something unintelligible. I slip my hand from where it rests on his bare chest to reach around his body, pressing my palm against his back. He sighs and wriggles closer, mumbling again, and I close my eyes and sigh as well. I'm back to the safety of our nest. The outside world can stay out for now. Nothing can hurt us anymore.

The phone rings and we both lurch in shock, suddenly very awake. It rings again and I roll out from under the covers and away from Logan. He sits up as I head for the kitchen. By the third ring, the receiver is in my hands and I connect the call.

"H'lo?"

"Veronica!"

"Dad!"

I grip my chest, emotion rising in me so quickly that I can barely breathe. In a flash, Logan is up and out of bed, crossing the room to be by my side.

"Honey, I got a call from Commander Sacks in Chicago this morning." Dad takes a sharp breath before continuing and I grip Logan's arm for comfort. "He said he was working on a case file involving you. He did a background check, confirmed you were my daughter, and called me out of professional courtesy to tell me what happened."

Logan kisses my forehead and I purse my lips, heat rising in my cheeks at the thought of what my father may or may not know.

"What did he tell you, Dad?"

My father sighs into the phone. "Everything. He told me everything, sweetheart. He told me about the bomb, and Logan being hurt in the blast, and what Duncan…" Another long pause and I close my eyes, my stomach turning as I wait for my father to speak again. "About how Duncan attacked you."

"You don't have to worry, Dad. I'm fine. Logan's fine." I look up at Logan and he looks down at me with concern.

"I highly doubt that, but I'll take your word for it right now," Dad huffs. "I also heard that Logan roughed Duncan up a bit before Duncan was arrested."

Logan's eyes go wide for a second and I realize that he's so close to me that he can probably hear what my father is saying.

"Yeah. Logan punched him. A few times."

"Good." Dad snorts. "Saves me from flying to Chicago and doing it myself."

Logan's chest puffs with pride and I bite my lip to hold back my grin as a wobbly smile crosses his face. With another kiss to my forehead, he moves past me to the kitchen and begins to make coffee.

"That won't be necessary, Dad."

"Well, speaking of flying to Chicago, when I talked to Sacks, we did discuss your safety—yours and Logan's safety—while they put this C.H.A.D. business in order." As I walk back to the bed, my dad clears his throat in my ear. "I want you and Logan to come home for a little while, to Neptune, so I can keep an eye on you both myself."

"I don't think that's necessary either, Dad," I say, dropping back onto my side of the bed, pulling my legs up so I'm cross-legged near the edge.

"It's completely necessary, Veronica. I'm actually going to be on a tele-conference call with other Security departments across the country later today. The New Democracy is mobilizing to make sure that this does not start to happen at campuses around Novo Terra. This isn't the first time we've heard of C.H.A.D., and it always seemed to be harmless, but now that they've proven that they're not, they need to be taken care of."

A shiver runs down my spine. Logan and I were just ground zero for the discovery of a new terrorist group. Not exactly how we pictured our college lives going, but here we are.

"Okay, Dad," I start slowly, catching Logan's eye. "If you think we should come home, we'll come home."

Logan stops what he's doing and glances at me from the kitchen, frowning. I shrug and he shakes his head, opening the cupboard and extracting two mugs before letting the door close a little too loudly behind him. He continues to busy himself trying to ignore me.

"Good. Then I'll make the arrangements. I'll give Aaron and Lynn a call and tell them what's happening too, so they don't worry. The explosion on campus has been all over the news."

"Actually, Dad…can you not tell Mr. and Mrs. Echolls that we're coming home?"

Glancing back at me, Logan purses his lips and this time, I avoid his eyes.

"Why's that, honey?"

"Oh, you know…I'm sure they already know about the explosion but I think we'd just needlessly worry them if they found out we were involved. If we just arrive at your place and surprise them, then it won't be a big thing. "

My dad pauses and I hold my breath, hoping he doesn't make this into a big deal.

"You don't want to see Aaron very much, do you?" Dad murmurs, as if he's let out a secret.

"You're right, Dad. You're so very right."

Logan leans against the wall and crosses his arm. He's still frowning at me, but it's more of a look of concern than anger. Which is good. I'd rather he be confused by me than pissed off because I'm really not up for an argument this morning.

"Okay then. We'll make it work."

"Thanks, Dad. I appreciate it."

"No problem, sweetheart. I'll call you later when we have the details worked out. I love you."

I can't help but smile. If there is anyone I can count on in this world, it's my dad. "I love you too. Talk to you later."

Disconnecting the call, I place the phone on the side table. Logan scratches the stubble on his cheek, but remains on the other side of the room. The smell of fresh coffee makes my stomach gurgle loudly and he chuckles.

"Should I put on some toaster waffles?"

"No. Not yet." I reach out my hand to him. "Come and sit with me. I'm not ready to deal with the world yet."

He runs his fingers through his hair and smirks, walking over to his side of the bed. Climbing back in, he leans back against the headboard and raises his arm. I take him up on his invitation and scoot over to cuddle against his side, my head resting in the crook of his shoulder. His arms come around me and we sigh in unison, sinking into each other's embrace. Brushing the hair off my forehead, he plants another tender kiss on my skin.

"How's your head feeling today?" I ask.

"Good." Logan continues to play with my hair and I close my eyes, enjoying his touch. "My stitches are throbbing a bit, but the headache is gone."

"That's good."

"How are you feeling?"

I can hear the implication in his tone. It's not just a question of how I'm physically doing, but mentally too. A flash of Duncan pressing his lips to mine sends a revolting shock through my guts and I cringe.

"Good. Not good. I don't know." I open my eyes and glance up at him. "I'd really like Duncan to be out of my head." My hand creeps up to his chest and my bruises come into view. "I know these will fade, but what happened with Duncan...I...I don't know when that will go away. In school, they told us that they had eliminated this type of behavior from society, and obviously we knew that wasn't true, but now that it's happened to me, I really don't know how to feel, or what to say or do to make it better."

Logan takes my hand in his and he slowly brings my wrist up to his lips, tenderly kissing my bruise. He places my hand against his heart and covers it with his palm.

"Can I tell you something?"

"You can tell me anything, Logan."

Taking a deep breath, he exhales slowly before continuing.

"I carry the memories of what Aaron did to me, like a giant weight, every day. Some days, it's so heavy, it feels like a boulder, pulling me down. Other days, it's lighter, like a cloud just hovering over me. But it's always there with me." Logan begins to stroke the back of my hand, staying away from my bruises. "Since you discovered my secret, though, I've had more days when it feels like a cloud than a boulder. And I think it's because you were right—telling someone my secret helped make the burden just a bit lighter."

He kisses my forehead again, a crooked smile spreading over his lips. "I know it doesn't feel like it right now, but in time, if you can find people you trust to talk about it with—me, your dad, a counselor—then I promise you, while the memory of it may never go away, it will get lighter."

I shift in his arms, holding back tears, and he leans his cheek on my head, his arm pulling me closer to his body.

"When we were talking to the inspector last night, I was in awe of the strength you had, telling them about what transpired between you and Duncan, and as I watched you, I realized that I needed to do that too. I need to dig deep and find the strength to turn Aaron in for his abuse."

I turn my hand to weave my fingers through his, clasping them tightly.

"You're strong, Logan. Not just physically, but mentally as well. I get it now. I get why you wanted to hide your secret from the world because frankly, if you weren't there with me, holding my hand, I don't know if I would have had the courage to tell them, about Duncan or Gory."

He's quiet for a moment and I lift my head, causing him to sit up straighter to meet my gaze. Dark circles of exhaustion pool under his eyes. His hair is disheveled and his face is full of patchy stubble. He looks wholly terrible and wonderful and I'm so grateful that he's here with me now. Letting go of his hand, I shift my palm to cradle his cheek and I smile as big tears begin to stream down my face.

"Yesterday morning, I thought I had lost you. And that fear stayed trapped in my heart. While I was sitting next to your bed at the hospital, I realized that loving someone also means dealing with possibly losing them, and it terrified me." I sniffle back the fresh round of tears, trying to keep some semblance of control. "At the same time though, it made me stronger. I wanted to stop Duncan. I wanted to stop Gory and Piz. I wanted to make sure that they knew that I wouldn't let fear stop me from putting a stop to them. Far from it...I wanted to make them pay for what they had done. And God, Logan, it was terrifying to tell the inspector, but after, it felt so good to see justice served."

Logan smirks, his hand coming up to caress my cheek, brushing my tears from my skin.

"Guess you really were always meant to be a judge. What does punching Duncan and Piz say about me?"

I snort as I laugh, causing him to grin. "I think it says that you're passionate and have a strong sense of right and wrong."

"Passionate, huh?"

"Yeah," I murmur, leaning closer to him. "But I already knew that."

Logan's lips sweep mine and everything begins to melt away as we sink lower onto the bed.

Logan

I pull Veronica on top of me as she giggles, her nose brushing against mine. When our lips connect, she sighs, her body relaxing onto me. My stitches pulse against the pillow and I try to push any pain away, focusing on her.

She rises away from me ever so slightly and I sweep some stray hair from her face, tucking it behind her ear. Even after everything we've been through in the past 24 hours, she looks bright and refreshed, her pink skin glowing and her eyes have that soft, morning dreaminess to them.

"I promise you, Veronica, I'm going to work very hard to make sure you never have to worry about me ever again." My hand draws down her spine, resting in the small of her back. "After this is over, I will endeavor for us to have a very safe, very boring life."

"Boring sounds really nice right about now," she muses, her legs slipping to straddle my thighs.

I want to slide my hand further, to reach under the edge of her underwear and cup her buttocks, but I hold off, worried that she may not be up for fooling around after what happened with Duncan.

"Then it's settled. We'll lead a boring life. With boring jobs and a house full of boring children, who will one day mourn us with our boring grandchildren close by."

She cocks her eyebrow at me, a wobbly smile on her lips.

"How many boring children are we talking about?"

"I dunno. Six or seven."

Playfully smacking my shoulder, she lets out a sharp laugh. "We are not having six or seven kids!"

"Well, by the amount of sex we have, I just thought that was what you were training me for…" I wiggle my eyebrows at her and she giggles. "...eventually repopulating our corner of the country."

"No. Two should suffice. Eventually." Leaning in, she quickly kisses me again. "I just enjoy the practice."

"So do I."

This time, when she kisses me, we linger, my lips parting to allow her tongue to find mine. I close my eyes and just enjoy the weight of her on me, the warmth spreading through my body as we continue, her fingers resting on my shoulders, gently pressing into my skin. When we part again, Veronica flips her hair to one side and gazes down on me.

"When I was sitting beside your hospital bed, I kept thinking about all the things we would miss experiencing together, if something had happened to you. I thought about graduating and getting our first house. Seeing you elected somewhere in the country. Winning my first big legal case. I thought about what our children would look like and if they would have your humour. I thought about it all and it made me even more sure that I want to grow very old with you, Logan. I want to grow old and grey with you. I want to sleep next to you every night and I want to wake up to you every day until the day when one of us is gone."

My heart pounds in my chest so hard it resonates in my ears. Drawing my fingers through her hair, I try and hold back my emotions, making sure they don't get the better of me.

"They used to say, till death do us part when people recited their union vows. I feel that still doesn't give us enough time."

"Maybe that's why they say forever, now. I will always be a part of you, and you will always be a part of me."

Her lips meet mine again and I can taste the salt from her tears as I hold back my own. As our kiss deepens, her hips begin to roll against mine and I can't help the moan that rises in my chest as my cock hardens beneath her.

Veronica's fingers caress my hair as she murmurs in between kisses, "How's your head?"

I chuckle and she smiles at me. "Good enough."

"Good enough for what?"

"Whatever you have planned for me. I mean, if you're feeling okay with it."

For a moment, she hesitates, her brow furrowing with concern. Her eyes focus on her wrist and she sits up on me, her hand rubbing her bruise. She glances over at the side table, and I know she's replaying what transpired with Duncan in her head because a flash of fear appears on her face before retreating.

"I...I think so…." I caress her thighs and she meets my gaze again, her lips pursed in consternation. "I don't want what Duncan did to come between us."

Sitting up, I shift her slightly on my lap so we are nose to nose.

"What he did will not come between us, Veronica. But give yourself time to process everything. The inspector gave you the number of that counselor last night. Maybe give her a call today and talk about it."

Her palms press to my chest and she sighs, heavy with uncertainty. "What if I just want to forget about it, Logan? Can't you just help me forget?"

"I can try. And I'm sure you can forget for a time, but promise me that you'll call her and talk."

"I will." Veronica's nose brushes mine before planting another soft kiss on my lips. "Now please, just make me forget about it all. For now."

Pulling her ass closer to straddle my hips again, I brush my lips across hers. "For now...I can do that."

Her shirt rises between us as she sheds it, tossing it to the ground. I take a breath, my fingers skimming the soft curves of her body as she arches under my touch. Ducking down to kiss her neck, she dips her head to the side, allowing me access to gently suck her skin.

"Yes, Logan…." she cooes and my hand slips between us, my thumb grazing her nipple, causing her to gasp.

Maybe she's right. Maybe this is what we need. Just to forget. Forget about everything and everyone trying to come between us. I just need to be careful. The last thing I want to do is trigger her—hurt her in some way that makes what she's been through that much worse.

Her hips buck against me and just like that, I'm fully hard again, stretching against the fabric of my sweats. Shifting her weight, she rolls her warm mound against me and I moan into her skin. My fingers slide under her soft cotton underwear, gliding between her cheeks to find her wet core. She gasps as I spread her lips, stroking her as I continue to suck at her neck.

As her hips roll against me, I hold my fingers steady, letting her find the angle she needs. When the pads of my fingers hit her hard clit, she gasps, dropping her head to my shoulder.

"Oh Logan...Logan…"

I'm content to hold her like this, knowing from the small mewls falling from her lips, and the way her body moves against me, that she's enjoying the pleasure I'm providing. An escape. I hope that I can give her enough that she will forget Duncan's touch, if only for a short time.

Veronica's fingers thread through my hair and I hiss in pain when she skims my stitches.

"Oh God! I'm sorry, Logan."

I cringe, lifting my head from her neck. "It's okay. It was an accident."

"Maybe this wasn't such a good idea…" She squirms away from my hand and I let her go. Rolling beside me with a huff of frustration, she crosses her arms over her bare breasts. "I don't want to hurt you."

"That's funny, because I keep thinking that I don't want to hurt you either." Scratching the stubble on my cheek, I glance at her and she frowns.

"You won't hurt me Logan."

"Are you sure?"

Biting her lip, Veronica leans back onto her pillows, her arms dropping from her chest.

"I'm positive." I take it as an invitation to roll towards her and kiss her. She giggles against my lips, her hands tugging on my sweats and I shimmy out of them.

She grabs my bare ass and gives me a playful squeeze. "I'll keep my hands lower this time, so I don't hurt you."

Giving her underwear a quick tug, I help her pull them off her legs and throw them on the floor.

"You can put your hands wherever you want," I murmur as I roll on top of her.

She spreads her legs and I come to rest nestled between them, my arms on either side of her, keeping me hovering above her. Her fingers dig into my butt cheeks again and she grins.

"Right here will do. For now."

Her eyes sparkle as I lower myself to kiss her, our lips part when they brush together, her teeth nipping playfully at me before settling into a soft connection. Our bodies shift together, adjusting to the new position. Reaching between us, she spreads herself, allowing my cock to find her wet core and I pause, head tucked between her lips, making sure she's ready for me. When she thrusts against me, we gasp in unison as I slide deeper inside her.

"More…." she whispers, and I ease myself into her with agonizing slowness. Her eyes close and her back arches into me.

I hold my position, nestled deep between her soft, wet walls, my hips flush with hers and her eyes flutter open, connecting with mine. Her hands slide up my back to clutch the back of my shoulders and I ease my weight down on her more, my arms slipping under hers, my hands now cradling the sides of her head. Rolling my hips, I pull from her slightly before sliding back inside, creating the barest of friction. Her legs wrap around my thighs and I lower my head, pressing my forehead to hers.

"I love you...I love you…" My lips punctuate my words, catching her lips between breaths. "Logan...oh Logan...I love you so much…."

My body shudders as we move together, rocking our hips in rhythm with each other. Her words of affection give way to small gasps and moans. Her body clings to mine, tightening muscles and yielding core, pleasure flowing between us. She begins to pant and I know she's close, so I lower my lips to her ear and whisper.

"Come for me, beautiful."

She gasps, her hips moving against mine before coming hard and fast, her muscles flexing around my cock, and I finally allow my tensed body to let go. My stitches throb as blood pulses through my veins and I clench my teeth against the mix of pain and pleasure when I come deep inside of her.

I look down at her flushed and glowing face and stars dance in front of my eyes.

"Are you okay?" She asks, eyes narrowing with concern.

"Me? Never better." I gasp when she rolls her hips up against me one last time and she steals a quick kiss from my lips. "And you?"

Veronica grins up at me. "Never better."