Veronica

I sit with my mother in silence, my eyes alternating between watching the front door for signs of life and glancing down the hallway in the direction of my bedroom. I know that Logan needs some time to himself, after everything he's gone through today, but all I want to do is lay down next to him and hold him until all the pain has left his body.

The officers showed up mid-afternoon, thinking they were picking up my father on the way to an investigation. Instead, Dad showed them upstairs to his bedroom, where Logan was waiting to speak to them. The entire time, I stayed in our room, trying to focus on the bit of homework I brought with me this week. Instead, I reread the same paragraph, over and over, as I imagined the hell Logan must have been going through behind those doors. When I finally heard the sound of footsteps coming down the stairs around dinner time, I came out to find my father, dressed in his uniform, accompanying the crew out the door. Logan followed a few minutes later, his eyes bloodshot and his face pale from exhaustion. My first instinct was to rush over and wrap my arms around him, but he put up his hand to stop me, choosing instead to drag himself to our room and shut the door behind him. As I stood dejectedly in the hallway, Mom gently took my hand to lead me to the kitchen, and together, we finished preparing a meal for four, but only the two of us ate it.

Now, we sit and wait for Lynn. It's all part of the plan. She's expected at 7:00 p.m. and it's now five minutes past and I can't help my knee as it bounces rapidly. The timing needs to be precise, Dad had said. Lynn was to arrive at 7:00 p.m. and Dad and his team were to arrest Aaron at a local restaurant at 7:15 p.m. Dad called in a favor with a mutual friend and asked him to invite Aaron out for a drink that night. He wanted the arrest to be public, so that Aaron would be less likely to resist. He also wanted to make sure that Aaron wasn't out with one of his mistresses while Lynn was occupied—another sordid fact Logan divulged to us before the team arrived. The speed with which the plan unfolded was shocking to me, but Dad explained that Aaron was the kind of person who had connections in high places. If he caught wind of what was happening—through a leak in my father's department or a source in the courts—the whole plan was dead before it could be executed. And I got the distinct impression after Dad saw Logan's scars that he was hell-bent on giving Aaron a one-way ticket to prison.

The doorbell rings and Mom and I jump to our feet. "I'll get it," she says, and waves at me to sit back down. With a sigh, I do what I'm told, my heart now beating in my ears.

Pausing at the door, Mom smooths down her beige blouse over her black pants and plasters a huge smile on her lips. Opening the door, her eyes light up with over-excitement at the sight of her guest.

"Lynn! I'm so glad to see you! It feels like forever."

"Well, you call me about the possibility of grand babies, and I had to come running!" Lynn walks into my sight and she kisses Mom's cheek, giving her a warm embrace. In her hand, she holds a bottle of champagne and I cringe at the thought of alcohol anywhere near my mom.

"Our babies having babies is an amazing thing…" Mom steps back to let Lynn in further and closes the door quickly, locking it behind them.

Lynn turns her back to the living room and waves the bottle of champagne at Mom. "I brought us something to celebrate with! I have to tell you, when you called, I was worried that you were about to tell me something happened to the kids when that pipe exploded on their campus. But I realized that if something had happened they would have called and told me, so it must be all good."

Mom can't take her eyes off the bottle of champagne and for a moment, she stumbles over her words. "Yes. They're fine. I mean I heard Logan was hurt, but not badly."

"What? Oh my God. Why wouldn't he have called?" Lynn gasps and Mom glances towards me, her eyes growing wider.

"Oh, you know…boys…they're terrible communicators…." Mom shrugs, her eyes now pleading with me for help.

Standing, I clear my throat and force a grin across my face. "Don't worry, Mrs. Echolls, he wasn't hurt badly at all."

Lynn spins, her plump red lips parting in a gasp as she sees me. She's dressed in a chic chocolate brown pantsuit and beige stiletto heels, in full makeup, as if she just walked off a set, and I can't help but be intimidated by the sheer presence of her in the room.

"Veronica! Darling!" Quickly striding into the room, she bends to hug me, the cold bottle of champagne touching my back. "What are you doing here?"

She's squeezing me a little too hard and I pat her on the shoulder and gasp, hoping she gets the hint and releases me.

"On a school break." Lynn lets go and steps away, a giant grin on her face and I catch my breath. "After the bo…explosion…they gave us all a week off to deal with everything."

"Oh, of course." She clutches her heart and releases a heavy sigh. "So many lives lost. What a sad, sad accident."

"It was. Logan was hit in the head by some debris on the jogging track, but he only needed a few stitches, so he was released quickly." My eyes dart towards my room, wondering if he was going to join this conversation or if it was better for him to stay in hiding.

"So, he's with you?"

Her voice rises is a way that sounds like excitement, but not quite. There's something else going on and I realize when her eyes meet mine that it's fear. Her big brown eyes are wide and wild, like an animal caught on the wrong side of a fence. Like Logan's when I called him out about the story of his scars.

"He is," I begin slowly, "but he's resting. He was given the okay by doctors to travel, but he has to take it easy."

"Well, I'm glad to hear it, but why didn't he call me and tell me he was hurt? And for that matter, why didn't he call and tell me you were coming?"

Mom comes around beside Lynn and places her hand on Lynn's shoulder, smiling. "Logan is fine. He just wanted to surprise you, Lynn, that's all."

"Yes, that's it…" I stammer and watch Lynn's features soften with Mom's words. Apparently, Mom lying about her alcoholism all these years has made her a pro at it.

"Oh, well then, he certainly succeeded! I am surprised!" She laughs, walking over to the couch and dropping dramatically down to sit, placing the bottle on the coffee table. "Now why don't we have a drink to celebrate." Lynn's eyebrow cocks and a crooked grin spreads across her face and damn, if she doesn't look like the feminine version of Logan right this second. "Except for you, Little Mama."

I jerk my head in shock before remembering how we got Lynn over here in the first place. Dropping my hands to my belly, I look down at the bloated bump that appeared after two helpings of my mother's manicotti for dinner. Baby Ricotta it is.

Laughing nervously, I try and remember how Jackie moves around the house. Deciding that standing may make my fake-baby-bump a little less pronounced, I ease myself back down into the chair, making sure to push out my stomach as I do.

"Guess I won't be drinking for a while."

"Well then, we'll open this and have a few for you, won't we, Lianne?"

I glance at my mother and she smiles nervously, fidgeting with her wedding ring. "I think I'll pass on the champagne tonight, Lynn, but thank you for bringing it. I can open if for you and Logan, if you like, or maybe make you a coffee?"

Awkward silence spreads through the room and my eyes dart to the clock on the mantle. It's 7:16 p.m. We need to keep Lynn here for at least an hour or more, until Dad returns. She's been here ten minutes and already, things have gotten so weird that even I want to leave.

"A coffee would be wonderful," Lynn murmurs as she looks past me towards my bedroom. "Thank you, Lianne."

"I'll get you one. Be right back." Mom gives me a tense smile before disappearing back to the kitchen, leaving Lynn and I alone together.

Placing my hands on my belly again, I drum my fingers on the stretching pink fabric. I almost forgot I was wearing the unicorn t-shirt and in Lynn's presence, I feel like a kid dressed this way.

"So, you must not be that far along," Lynn begins slowly, leaning forward as her eyes skim my body. "I mean, it's only November, and you both left at the end of August, so unless you conceived the night of your partnership ceremony…"

"No! Not very far along at all." I interject, panic running through me. "Just got confirmation before we left so Logan and I are still adjusting to the…er…surprise."

Pursing her lips, Lynn looks me over again, her eyes narrowing and I wonder if I'm over acting this pregnant thing. Exhaling slowly, I ease myself back so my belly doesn't look nearly as big.

"Well, I must say, you're radiant, Veronica. Just glowing," Lynn coos. She clasps her hands and brings them to her lips and for a second, I think she's going to cry, but instead, she lets out a deep sigh. "I'm just so happy that Logan was partnered with someone who loves him and wants to start a family with him."

Warmth spreads through me at the mention of loving Logan and suddenly I'm the one blinking back tears.

"I do love him and I do want to start a family with him, Mrs. Echolls." I bring my hands up to my lips, trying to hold in my emotions. "I know I was hesitant about our match when it was made, but over these past few months, I've come to see what a kind and loving man he is. What a thoughtful and considerate friend he is. And what an intelligent and empathetic politician he'll become. There is no one else in this world I would want as a partner and father to my children."

When a hand comes down on my shoulder, I jump and turn to see Logan looking down at me, a wobbly smile pulling across his face. The bags that were under his eyes have disappeared, replaced by a healthy pink glow on his cheeks. I want to leap to my feet and smother him in kisses, but instead, he leans down and tenderly kisses my forehead.

"I love you too," he whispers.

"Oh Logan, I'm so happy for you." Lynn stands and opens her arms to her son.

With a heavy sigh, Logan walks across the room to embrace his mother, just as mine shows back up, pausing with the hot coffee cup in her hand. I shrug to her and she walks around behind me towards Lynn and places the mug on the table.

"Thanks, Mom. I only wish it were true."

"What?"

My mother comes and stands beside my chair and reaches her hand out for mine. I grab it and squeeze. This was going to get ugly.

Stepping back from Lynn, Logan rubs his face with his palms and sighs again, louder and slower, as if gathering his strength once more today. I rise from the chair and take a step towards him but Mom gives me a little tug, and when I turn to see her, she has that look in her eye that she had when I was a kid that tells me, stay put and be quiet. Nodding, I move back a bit, giving Logan and Lynn some space.

"Veronica's not pregnant. That's a lie we made up to get you here, alone." Logan reaches for Lynn's hands, as confusion paints her face. "We needed you to come here without Aaron, so you would be safe."

"Safe?" A high blush tinges her cheeks as she glances our way, then back to Logan. "Safe from what, Logan?"

"Safe from Dad, Mom." Logan glances over at the clock. "Because right now, Keith Mars is arresting him with other members of the Security System for his years of abuse towards me."

All the colour drains from Lynn's face and her hands start to shake in Logan's. Her eyes dart between us all, wide and filled with fear.

"Logan…I…you can't….you just….can't…"

The muscles in my chest constrict, gripping my heart at her words. I want to scream at her, and I know Logan must too by the way the corner of his lip twitches, but he doesn't. Instead, he rights his shoulders and drops her hands.

"I can and I did, Mother."

"No. No no no no…" Lynn walks away from him towards the back wall and begins to pace, her eyes darting from us to the windows to the door. "No, you can't. Don't you see? None of us will be safe."

Stepping around the coffee table, Logan places himself near the entryway to the living room, blocking the route to the front door.

"We weren't safe before, but we'll be safe now with him behind bars, Mom. Keith will take care of everything. That's why you're here, with us now. He's going to take care of Aaron and then come and help you find a safe place to stay until Aaron is locked away, permanently."

Lynn's torso rocks back and forth as she paces, her hands gripping her spiky brown hair. "It won't matter, Logan. It won't! Don't you get it? Don't you see?"

"See what, Mom?" Logan's voice begins to rise, his hands waving towards her. "See what his secrets have done to us? See how he's twisted both you and I to act like this is normal? See how he's made us both cowards?!"

"No!" Lynn barks back, stopping in her tracks and pointing across to Logan. "Don't you see that nothing has changed, Logan. Absolutely nothing!"

"Everything has changed, Mom! We're free!"

"Free? Free? We were never free, Logan! And we never will be!" Lynn's voice is now high and frantic as her body shakes with anger and fear. "Don't you see that everything we fought for in the war is a lie? All of these things still happen—the misogyny and the racism and the abuse —they all still happen, it's just been driven back underground, to lurk in the shadows."

"That's not true!" Logan spits back, his face contorted with anger.

"It is true! We're all supposed to be equal but your father has a connection to people and things that comes with the privilege of working for the government…" Her finger flies up to point at me. "Same as Keith Mars. There are still those who will have more money and power in this country, but it's all now a secret. It's hidden from view. And if you think that your father won't use every dime he has locked away in some safe somewhere to make sure that I end up disfigured or dead, then you're fooling yourself."

My mouth drops open to argue with her but my brain shuts it down as the thought of my father getting the confidential files about Duncan's DNA tests swims through my memory. How he managed to save enough money to give as a gift to Logan and I when we went to college. How he covertly coordinated the arrest of Aaron Echolls from the security of our home.

Lynn was right.

"I fought in that goddamn war thinking everything would change," Lynn hisses, tears dropping down her cheeks. "I lost friends. I watched loved ones die. I even married your father thinking that this world had changed, so he would too. And it did for a time, when we were all working together to create a better world, but it hasn't. At least not for me."

The room becomes a vacuum as all the air seems to rush out, leaving us breathless and silent. What was there to say? I couldn't come up with any words to contradict what Lynn said and in fact, some of it rang true. If privilege still existed, then we were never really a New Democracy. We were the old one, living in a different skin.

"It is a different world, Mom. It's a much different world," Logan starts quietly, walking slowly towards her. "I do believe that we are equal now. I do believe that we treat each other better, more humanely. But I also do believe that the world we learned about that existed before the war is still out there, lurking. Which is why we have to stand up to it when we see it. Stand up to the misogyny and racism and abuse because now, we have a system that has empowered us to deal with those things, swiftly." He glances over his shoulder at me and nods before turning back to his mom. "It's also why I feel like Veronica and I were chosen to walk the path we were by Orwell, because both of us believe, deep down, that there is a better way for our country, and we want to be a part of continuing that for generations to come."

Logan stops in front of Lynn, looking her straight in the eyes. Her hands come up to cradle his face and tears spring to my eyes at the sight of them together, the similarities both in face and character between mother and son so striking to me at this moment. Part of me wants to be mad at Lynn - wants to hate her for staying with Aaron through Logan's abuse - but somehow I can't, because in the end, my heart puts the pieces of her story together to see how the years of psychological abuse trapped her too. That even the bravest and the strongest among us, can feel weak sometimes.

"When did you become such a strong, brilliant young man?" Lynn whispers.

"I'm your son, Mom. I get my strength and my wisdom all from you." Logan's hands clasp hers, tears welling in his eyes. "If it wasn't for you, who knows how I would have turned out?"

Lynn leans towards him, her forehead touching his and Logan finally lets go, letting his tears fall. My vision begins to blur through my own tears and my mother comes closer and wraps her arm around my shoulders, squeezing me gently.

"I love you, Mom. I'll keep you safe, I promise," Logan murmurs, wrapping his arms around her and Lynn gasps as she sobs.

Wiping away my tears, I see Logan's hands spread across her back, holding her steady as Lynn's thin body shakes against his, now wracked with tears.

For now, the room is filled with the sound of crying from us all. And while I cry for Logan and the separation from his mother, inside, I'm also crying for myself. With all the secrets revealed, something feels different inside of me, like my eyes are now open to the ugliness of the world, and I don't like it at all. And so, I mourn for myself and the person I once was. The last remnants of my naivety shedding with my tears.

Logan

When I think Mom has had enough, I let her out of my embrace and instead, wrap my arm around her shoulders. "Come and sit down," I tell her and she nods, a last little gasp escaping her as we move to the couch.

Gently, I lower her to sit and then slide in next to her. The champagne bottle is still on the coffee table and fuck, I could really use a drink right now. But it wasn't the place or the time for that.

Veronica walks away from her mother to sit next to me on the couch, a soft smile pressing on her lips. Her eyes are bloodshot from crying, her tears staining her face and when I place my palm up on my knee, she takes my hand, moving it to her lap. Her touch electrifies me, giving me the strength I need to press on with what needs to be done, and I'm so fucking grateful for her presence right now that I'm at a loss to express it properly, so instead, I just give her a small nod and a smile. Her response is to place her hand on my back, spreading warmth through my body.

Turning my attention back to Mom, I slowly take a breath, gathering myself. "I trust Keith, Mom. He told me about how you knew each other during the war, and I truly don't believe that he would let anything happen to you. In fact, I got the distinct impression that he doesn't hold Aaron in very high regard."

Mom snorts a laugh and wipes her eyes, a weak smile tugging at her lips. "That's an understatement. Your father was jealous of the position Keith Mars received for his bravery during the war and he took great pride at trying to show Keith how well he was doing for himself, in Government circles."

"Really?"

"Yes, but it was all a lie, and Keith knew it." With a wave of her hand, mom laughed, sardonically. "Your father and I play our role in the propaganda machine, but Keith was given true power—power Aaron always wanted—because people saw that Keith could be trusted with power. I never saw or heard a word of Keith ever abusing that power to advance his own career or his family." She paused and smiled at Lianne, who had taken the seat that Veronica vacated. "And when he became part of the Orwell project, he was rewarded with the family and home he always wanted."

"Then why didn't you volunteer to be part of the Orwell tests, Mom? Why did you stay with Aaron?"

"Because I was already pregnant with the child I lost," Mom whispers. "And even though I was fighting for a new world, it's hard to walk away from the values that are instilled in you. So, I married the father of my child, in the hope that he would eventually become the man I thought he could be. But he didn't. And after the baby died, he became worse, because he saw very little use for me beyond our business arrangement with the studios."

"But Trina and I…"

"Trina was your father's idea. He thought that the government would look kindly on us if we took in an orphan, and we raised her as best we could, but there was always something wild in her that we couldn't counter. There was also the neediness that came from the trauma of her abandonment when she was two-years-old and no amount of time or therapy helped. But she made a good life with her partners and for that I'm grateful." Mom shrugs, her eyes fluttering as she sighs. "And you…well…I still wanted to try and carry a child to term, so I sought out doctors who helped me, and one night, I seduced your father, when the timing was right. Nine months later, you came along."

I can't help but cringe, and she just laughs at me, her hand dropping to my shoulder. "You, Logan, have been my miracle. My son. The one person who I have loved completely in the world and I know, I've made so many mistakes, but please, never think that I haven't loved you."

"But you still let him beat me," I state in a monotone. "You still made me keep the secret."

"That's because I truly believed he would kill you, and me, Logan. And I would much rather see you alive and hurt, then dead in my arms." Her lip quivers and she blinks back tears. "I know it's hard to understand, but my generation, we're the transitional one. We're trying to operate in this new world, but the beliefs and values we had before the war are still in our bellies. Maybe that's why I still, on some level, don't believe that I'm safe, because before the war, I wouldn't have been. Our trauma is so deep that it's in our DNA."

Tossing me a quick glance, Lynn forces a small smile before turning back to Logan. "But you and Veronica, and someday your children, you're learning how to cope in a way we never had, and eventually, you won't have to deal with any of that. Don't you see, one day, there will be the ultimate peace because your generation will be free from the past?"

"Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it. Winston Churchill," I quote and Mom gives me a crooked grin. "I don't think we'll ever be free from the past, Mom, but I do think we can learn from it."

She clutches my shoulder and places a kiss on my cheek. "And that's why you're going to be one of the people who keeps this world in check, Logan. I believe that with my whole heart."

There's a click at the door and I freeze, my eyes growing wide as the locks continue to click and Lianne stands, hurrying towards the hall. When Keith enters, I realize I was holding my breath, and I exhale loudly. He's dressed in tactical gear from head to toe—kevlar and metal—and the sight sends a chill down my spine. If Keith wanted to intimidate Aaron at just the sight of him and his team, coming to arrest him, I'm pretty sure he succeeded.

"Keith? Is it over?" Lianne asks, her hand resting on the shoulder of his deep blue uniform.

"It is for Aaron," he murmurs, nodding to her. Removing his thick black helmet, he steps heavily towards the couch and I stand, giving Mom a little tug to help her to her feet. "He won't be a problem for either of you anymore."

Turning towards Keith, my mother sighs. "Do you really think that's true, Keith?"

He gives her an incredulous frown, reaching out to gently rest on her bicep. "I do, Lynn, because I'm going to make sure of it. When we arrested him, he was spouting off about lawyers and people in the New Democracy to call, but in that jail cell, I reminded him that this wasn't a time, like before the war, when his celebrity could help him. Now, he's just another child abuser, awaiting his trial in a cold, dark prison."

Veronica presses her palms to my back and I close my eyes, slowly exhaling all my worry away. When I open them, Keith is looking back at me with concern.

"Logan, the Judge wants to move quickly on this, so justice is finally served for you. For now, your video deposition will act as evidence and if they need, we will fly you out for the actual trial in a few weeks." Reaching into a compartment on his vest, he pulls out a white business card and passes it to me. There is the symbol for the New Democracy on it with a name and phone number. "That is your court-appointed therapist. They'll be expecting your call tomorrow to set up your first session while you're in Neptune. He'll set you up with another therapist in Chicago when you return to school."

"Thank you, Keith." I nod and slip the card in my back pocket, my elbow bumping gently into Veronica as I move.

Clasping his hands, he focuses back on my mother. "As for you, Lynn, I'm going to take you to a safe house for the next two days. We'll get your deposition, and I can supervise you going home for a time…" His hand sweeps his bald head, in what I now think of as the Keith Mars Tell that he's thinking. "I'm then going to escort you to the Canadian border. I've arranged for you to stay with an old mutual contact of ours—Clifford McCormack —in Winnipeg, for the next six months, until everything dies down with Aaron and I'm sure it's safe for you to return home."

"Cliff?" Mom gasps. "You're sending me to stay with a smuggler who used to run a strip club?"

Keith laughs and shakes his head, tossing up his hands. "Hey, you remember…he used to also be a lawyer and he was a damn good smuggler during the war."

"Because he smuggled things with the girls as mules!" Mom snaps."Do you know where they shoved those messages to keep them safe?"

"Gross." Veronica gags behind me and I turn to see her wrinkle her nose up at me.

"I promise, he will not make you run any messages to anyone in that way, Lynn." Keith chuckles. "He's still a lawyer up in Canada and has a nice place you can stay. He also has his ear to the ground and connections on both sides of the border for any possible problems that may arise."

Crossing her arms, Mom shakes her head. "I can't believe Cliff McCormack is going to be the man that helps me get away from Aaron. But if that's what needs to happen, then that's what needs to happen."

Keith turns and walks to Lianne, taking her hand in his. "You going to be okay with Logan and Veronica here while I'm gone?"

"I'll be fine," Lianne kisses his cheek, smiling warmly at him. "You do what you need to do to keep everyone safe."

He returns her kiss, this time on her lips, and just seeing the intimacy between them makes me blush. Maybe it's the idea that after all these years, Keith and Lianne seem to be still working things out, one day at a time. Veronica must be thinking the same thing because her hand reaches for mine and our fingers twine together.

"And you…" Mom turns to face me again, eyes wide with concern. "You'll be okay?"

"Don't worry about me. I'll be fine, Mom."

Her fingers brush the hair from my forehead and she sighs, pressing her lips together as she takes a long look at me and my heart aches. I know that Keith will keep her safe, but the idea that she has to leave the country to be safe from Aaron still fills me with a sense of unease.

"I'm sure you will be, Logan." Palms on my cheeks, she kisses my forehead, smiling as tears appear on her long lashes. "Just don't go and have any babies while I'm gone, okay?"

Wincing, I shake my head, chuckling. "Well, you have at least five-years then, Mom. But please, come back sooner than that."

Patting my cheek, she grins. "I will, my precious boy. I'll come back. I promise."

Choking back tears, I release Veronica's hand and wrap my arms around my Mom for the last time in a while. Taking a moment, I breathe in the scent of her soft woodsy perfume. Cedar and sandalwood mixed with a hint of jasmine and I close my eyes, remembering the feeling of home with her. Whenever Aaron was gone and it was just the two of us. Dancing in the kitchen. Reading old Hardy Boys books. Movies and popcorn on the couch.

"I love you, Mom."

"I love you too, Logan."

I squeeze her, tighter, suddenly unable to let her go. It's not until I hear Keith clear his throat and Veronica begins to gently rub my back that I release her, letting her see my tears. When she brushes her hand across her face, mom's makeup smears across her skin, but all I can think is that, when she returns, we'll both be happier. Safer.

Please protect her.

I swallow my silent prayer and she steps away, turning to Keith. "Let's get this done."

Placing his hand on her shoulder, Keith nods to her and then to me. "All right. Let's get this done, Lynn."

She doesn't turn around as he leads her out and in the time it takes for the door to close behind her, I've gone numb. Cold. So, when Veronica's hand skims my arm, it feels almost hot to the touch.

"It's going to be okay, Logan. Everything will be better now."

I can see the lights of the vehicles outside light up, sit for a second, then bend and move, driving away and I follow them, turning to watch through the window until they fade into the night.

"I hope so, Veronica," I mutter. "I really hope so."