Late October 2015 (two months earlier)

Veronica fidgeted impatiently in the uncomfortably green, plastic waiting room chair at their family's doctor. After over a week with a nasty cold that wasn't getting any better, she had finally insisted that her father get checked out. She'd even left work early, picked him up from the sheriff's station and drove him to the doctor's office herself to ensure that he didn't cancel the appointment again. He was such a baby.

Her thoughts moved to Duncan. They had been spending a lot of time together recently. Now that she thought about it, she realized that she had seen a lot of him ever since she'd graduated. And the visits had gradually increased since she'd moved back to Southern California just over a year ago. Lilly was always off on some adventure to a faraway land and Logan was busy saving the world. But Duncan had been making a point to spend time with her. He'd made many trips to the Bay Area the summer after graduation while she'd been finishing her internship. And then when she had moved home last year to take a job at a law firm in San Diego, Duncan had seemed to be in Neptune a lot for business.

Tired of being alone with her thoughts, Veronica walked over to the magazine rack and blindly picked up the top two magazines and plopped back down in her seat. She looked down at her lap and saw what she had grabbed: The Economist and last month's issue of Forbes Magazine. She quickly threw The Economist on the chair next to her as she read the title of the featured article on the cover of Forbes. '30 Most Eligible Bachelors Under 30!' it read. She chuckled to herself, vaguely remembering Duncan mentioning something about this article when she had dinner with him the month before.

She flipped through what seemed like endless pages of advertisements before her eyes finally landed on Duncan's smiling face. It was a great shot of him. Veronica didn't know how he managed it, but Duncan still looked almost exactly how he had in high school. The article described Duncan Kane as the son of billionaire software mogul Jake Kane and went on to say that he would soon be a force on the political front. Veronica noticed how at ease Duncan appeared in the photographs, all of them taken with some senator or cabinet member. Jake Kane had always had high hopes for his son in politics, and Duncan, it seemed, was right at home on that scene. He'd made it on the list at number twenty-nine. Not too shabby, Kane. She eagerly flipped the page to see who had beaten him out for the top spots.

Veronica hadn't heard of most of the bachelors on the list. She saw Connor Larkin as number seven. She hadn't talked to him in years. It wasn't until she turned the page for lucky bachelor number one that her heart skipped a beat. There, in a stunning double-page spread, was Logan Echolls. A candid picture of him from a recent charity event in London filled one entire page. He was wearing an exquisitely tailored, expensive tuxedo and holding a flute of champagne. Veronica was happy to see that his smile was genuine. The article described Logan as the activist and philanthropist son of Hollywood starlets Aaron and Lynn Echolls. Logan had started his own foundation to help abused women and children and, with his usual charm and charisma, turned the foundation into one of the largest non-profit organizations on the West Coast. Now he was living in London, helping a similar organization in the UK. A smaller photo on the opposite page showed him standing with Sir Patrick Stewart and Jonathan Winthrop-Scott. She was so proud of him. She had always known he would do something special with his life.

There was no mention of a girlfriend in the magazine, but that wasn't telling. It was an article about bachelors, after all. Truth be told, she'd been avoiding his calls after seeing him on the cover of some sleazy British tabloid on the arm of some British real estate tycoon's daughter. Well, three different tabloids, but who was counting? She wasn't. She suddenly found herself blinking back tears. She missed him. She reached into her bag to find her phone to send Logan a quick text to congratulate him but then decided against it. It was late there, and she didn't know what to say anyway. That was the trouble once one started avoiding someone—it made things awkward.

Veronica was pulled out of her thoughts when her father came out of the back holding a slip of paper in his hand. "What's the verdict, Pops?" she asked, hoping she didn't sound and look as down as she felt.

"When you're right, you're right. Strep throat, baby!" Keith held up a prescription. "We can stop by the pharmacy on the way home."

"Fabulous," she replied, rolling her eyes.

Logan is off dating millionaire heiresses and fighting child abuse while I babysit my father, socialize with my high school boyfriend, and pay off my student loans. Things just keep getting better and better.

The next day when Veronica got a text from Duncan asking her to dinner, she jumped at the chance to get out of the house. Working hard to prove herself at her new law firm and the commuting back and forth to San Diego was making her cranky. It was Saturday night, she'd been home all day working from her laptop while taking care of her sick father, and she was feeling seriously stir crazy sharing a space with him. It was a little bit claustrophobic after so many years of living on her own. She needed to get out, and Duncan's request had perfect timing.

She liked spending time with Duncan. It was nice—like old times. They tried new restaurants sometimes or went to the movies. He'd never once hinted at them dating, so Veronica knew that Duncan felt the same way she did. They had so much history together and so much to talk about, but at the same time, he was the same old Duncan—no spark. She was beginning to wonder if the spark was a myth perpetrated by Hollywood directors and romance novel authors to make all women question their relationships and always feel unsatisfied. There had been times with Logan that she'd thought she felt it—was sure she felt it—but passion was complicated. Veronica shook thoughts of herself and Logan—moonlit beaches—out of her mind and settled her thoughts on reality. She had to get going if she was going to be ready on time.

Veronica had just enough time to shower and throw on some jeans and a Stanford hoodie before she heard Duncan's knock. When she opened the door, Duncan, somewhat awkwardly, pulled an expensive bouquet from behind his back.

Veronica stiffened but forced herself to smile as she looked past the flowers at him. Flowers were for dates. She'd have to discuss where they stood tonight, she decided. Then she noticed he was slightly dressed up. She took in his argyle sweater and dress slacks. "Did you just come from a meeting?" she asked hopefully.

"Nope," he replied. "I texted you when I arrived in California and then went home to get ready." He shifted his weight between one leg and then the other nervously.

Clearly Duncan thought this was more than just friends hanging out. Definitely time to have the 'just friends' talk. "Oh…right. Should I change?" she asked him. "Usually we just go to a hole in the wall…"

His only response was to smile and shake his head. "You look great, Veronica."

Veronica let out a sigh. Their hands brushed when she took the bouquet from him and Veronica waited for the spark of excitement. It didn't come. Outwardly she tried to remain calm and collected, but on the inside, she was freaking out. Why couldn't she want him that way? Girls like Meg and Parker would swoon and be grateful and flattered at the attention he was showing her. She wanted to be that kind of girl. She just didn't feel that way. Not about Duncan. She hadn't felt that way at all in years—not since back in college. Not since...Duncan intruded on her thoughts by reaching out and placing his hand on her shoulder and squeezing it. Veronica smiled and thanked him politely. He kissed her on the cheek before she escaped under the guise of finding a vase.

Duncan was particularly attentive to her all evening, but he never made a move to touch her, so Veronica calmed down a bit during their meal. After dinner, they walked down to the beach and then he took her hand as they walked along the pier together. She looked down at their joined hands, her feelings mixed. While she'd warmed up to the idea that Duncan considered this a date, she was having trouble understanding why he would want to date her. She hadn't done anything to encourage him and there hadn't been any romance between them since they were sixteen.

"So, I have some news," Duncan said, casually. Veronica watched as he looked around, not really focusing on any one thing, and then tapped the fingers of his free hand on the pier's handrail. She assumed it was just nerves of asking her on an official date. At least she had hoped that was what it was. "I'm moving back to Neptune. Dad thinks that I've spent enough time paying my dues on the East Coast and that it's time for me to start making connections back in California if I am going to try to run for local office here. And I think he's right."

"Duncan, that's amazing!" she said and turned to give him a big hug. "It's perfect. Lilly said that Logan's almost done in London and Lilly will be back from Paris soon. And I'm here…well, when I'm not driving between here and San Diego. It feels like ages since we all lived so close together!" It was at this point in her life when Veronica found herself appreciating the friends she'd had since childhood.

Duncan pulled out of the hug first, held her out at arm's length, and then let go of her shoulders to take both of her hands in his. Veronica furrowed her brow, desperate to read his mind, to make sense of tonight. What she saw in his eyes worried her, so she looked away.

"Veronica, you are one of my oldest and dearest friends. These past few months have…well, I've come to realize some things. I'm growing up, I guess, and my priorities are changing. I find myself longing for the comforts of home and companionship with someone I can trust…." he trailed off.

Veronica's mind raced.

Companionship.

She waited.

"And I trust you, Veronica. My life might never be simple. I have political aspirations and I know you are ambitious at the firm, but we'd make it work. The two of us. Together."

"Duncan, I..." she stopped, unsure of how to continue.

"What I'm trying to say is that I think we work well together. I think our temperaments are similar enough and that we could have a happy life together, based on mutual respect and…admiration."

No. No no no. "Duncan, what are you trying to say?"

He chuckled and knelt down in front of her, keeping her hands clasped in his. "This may seem sudden, but I feel like we've grown so close these past few months. Veronica Mars, will you marry me?"

Veronica's first reaction was the urge to laugh. She'd only, this week, begun to even wonder if Duncan had romantic designs on her. A proposal of marriage hadn't even crossed her...they hadn't kissed since they were teenagers. But when she looked down at his serious and hopeful expression, all her humor vanished. She didn't want to hurt him.

"Wow, Duncan, this feels so…unexpected. I'm surprised. Are you sure?"

"I've never been so sure about anything in my life, Veronica. You're my best friend. I've known you forever. I think we have what it takes to make it work. Don't you think so, too?"

Not the most romantic proposal, she acknowledged. Hell, it wasn't even the most romantic proposal she'd ever received. Duncan was a good guy, but best friend? Her thoughts couldn't help but sway to Logan...her real best friend. Logan who made impulsively romantic proposals in coffee shops. Logan who had been there for her when she'd had late night study sessions and laughed at her when she'd cried at Ikea commercials. Logan who talked her off the ledge when she called him while hiding from professors in the bathroom during her first semester in law school. Logan who'd danced with her in the moonlight.

Maybe she needed to just let herself go a little bit—maybe it was she who was holding back the romance here. Duncan did have a point. Her girlish ideals for passion seemed childish and silly when faced with a chance at something that could last. Weren't there more important things in life than passion? Of course, there were. Duncan was stable and dependable and...stable. Her history of passion was limited to a single stolen night and the dream of something more—promises probably long forgotten by all but herself. She focused on Duncan in front of her.

"I'm just a little surprised. I do care about you, Duncan, but this is…fast. I'd never considered being a politician's wife. Can I have some time to think about it?" she asked, a smile touching her lips before she could help it. He looked so hopeful.

Duncan beamed up at her and pulled up to standing. "I understand completely. Being in the limelight is tough to get used to. Take all the time you need, Veronica. I'll be returning to the East Coast tomorrow. It'll take me some time to get things together there for the move. I'll be back in a week or so. We can talk about things again then."

She nodded gratefully, still too confused to speak. It certainly wasn't the life she'd expected, but her thoughts flew to her parents failed marriage and Logan on the arms of different women throughout Europe and she grimaced. Passion, clearly, was temporary. Maybe sensible and dependable was the way to go.

After holing up in her room for all of Sunday, Veronica found herself ecstatic at the prospect of the busy workweek. When Monday morning came, both Marses had loaded into their respective cars and taken off in opposite directions to start their days. The traffic had been light, and Veronica happily settled into her desk earlier than usual, welcoming the load her busy firm delivered. That was until she looked at the daunting piles of paperwork on her desk and decided instead to start her workday by reading email. After sorting through the first fifty, Veronica's eyes landed on one from her best friend Lilly Kane, and her eyes lit up. Had Duncan told Lilly? She had no idea what her friend would think of Veronica as a possible wife for Duncan, but she was sure Lilly would love to make their sister status official. Veronica stole a quick peek through the doorway, and, seeing no one in the hallway, she opened the email with a smile.

If Lilly knew about Duncan's proposal, she didn't mention it. It was filled with gossip. Guys in Paris…guys in Calais...guys in Provence. So, it was the usual for Lilly. Veronica chuckled. Lilly certainly didn't have a short supply of passion. But it only reinforced her point. Passion was fleeting. Veronica had never really sought after a string of guys.

Lilly's email concluded with: 'BTW looks like someone is living it up in the UK with a certain heiress. I met up with them in London last week. She's nice, but a little stiff for my taste. Logan misses you. He says he tried to call you a few times and you didn't answer.' Veronica scowled but clicked on the link that Lilly had pasted in. It was a story in the Mirror featuring Logan with heiress Philippa Winthrop-Scott. There were a couple of pictures of the two of them smiling in each other's arms; they were obviously at a ballroom dancing class. Veronica swallowed past the lump in her throat. In the first shot, they were looking at each other intensely, and in the other Logan was smirking at Philippa, and her head was thrown back in obvious laughter. They were the epitome of a young couple in love.

The caption read: 'Dancing lessons? Are London's most celebrated debutante and California's most sought-after bachelor soon to become a lot less eligible?'

Veronica felt as though the wind had been knocked out of her. She didn't know why she was surprised. Logan had mentioned Philippa in passing when they'd last talked, but nothing had indicated to Veronica that Philippa was someone special. She hadn't wanted to listen to him talk about Philippa Winthrop-Scott then any more than she wanted to read about them now. Hence the avoidant coping. She assumed that the heiress was just a passing fancy like all the others had been, but this looked...serious.

Now that she thought about it, though, it seemed inevitable. They were growing up and she'd never expected him to make it to twenty-eight still single.

Veronica found herself more frustrated by her own irrational reaction to seeing him dating than by him actually dating. Maybe it was the dancing. Dancing had always been their thing. Veronica chastised herself. Of course he would dance with his fiancée! She didn't own exclusive dancing rights to Logan Echolls.

"Good morning, Veronica. Is your dad feeling better?" Veronica quickly minimized the page and looked up to see one of the partners at her firm standing in her doorway.

It took her a moment to find her voice. "Much, thank you. Forty-eight hours of antibiotics did the trick," she said after a short pause.

"Great. Meeting in ten minutes. I'll see you there?" he asked rhetorically and then disappeared down the hall.

Veronica cleared her throat and opened the computer's window again. She took one last look at the handsome couple on the screen before closing the web page. Apparently Logan had found someone special to share his life with. And it obviously wasn't her. There'd been a time when she'd hoped—maybe even assumed—that eventually they'd find their way to one another. But then she'd left for grad school and he'd gotten busy. Maybe she and Logan had missed their window. Maybe some things weren't meant to be.

Veronica was so lost in thought that she jumped when her phone rang. She dug around in her purse until she found it and frowned when she saw Logan's name on the caller ID. Too flustered by everything to talk to him, she sent his call to voicemail and tossed the phone into a desk drawer.

When her phone pinged to indicate a voicemail, Veronica immediately gave in to curiosity. She retrieved her phone and hit the button to retrieve her messages. The sound of Logan's voice made her grin, as usual, but at his nervous tone, the smile slid off of her face. After listening to the message twice, she deleted it and set her phone down on her desk.

Veronica took a few slow steadying breaths, trying to gather her thoughts. She couldn't afford to let herself be distracted at work. She didn't want to think of Logan and Philippa. She didn't want to have the news of their engagement confirmed. She couldn't. Not yet, at least. She'd speak to him later...maybe.

Her thoughts flew to Duncan. Dependable, stable, unattached Duncan. He drank in moderation. Did everything in moderation. So many things that were important, he had. Marrying Duncan wouldn't be settling exactly, just…accepting reality, she reasoned pragmatically, acknowledging him as maybe the best choice of the available choices. There was so much more to life than passion and dancing.

If a passionate happily-ever-after wasn't in the cards for her, why not dependable? There was nothing wrong with Duncan per se. He was hardworking and loyal and a good listener.

She couldn't deny that there was that other part of her—the rebellious part that she usually managed to suppress. The stubborn side of her that was screaming in her ear that she was twenty-seven. Her eyes slid to the phone sitting on her desk. She'd be damned if, between Logan and herself, she was going to be the one to make it to twenty-eight still single. Hell no!

She picked up her phone and drafted a text to Duncan.

Veronica: I'll marry you.

She looked down at her response and cringed. It wasn't the stuff dreams were made of, but she wasn't a dreams sort of girl; she was a lawyer, a realist. Before she could stop herself, she hit the 'send' button on her phone and then promptly gathered her notepad, laptop, and coffee mug and exited her office in the direction of the conference room.

"Hello. You've reached the voicemail of Veronica Mars. Please leave a message and I'll return your call as soon as possible. If you'd like to reach a legal secretary or another attorney at the firm, please call—"

Logan pressed the pound button to bypass the rest of her message. He'd listened to Veronica's voicemail message so often lately that he had all the phone numbers she listed at the end memorized. He tried to keep the frustration out of his voice when he left his message.

"Hey, V, I don't know what's going on. It's been months since we've really talked. You need to stop dodging my calls. Don't deny it. I'm at the airport in London and, I...well, there's something...I have some news, and you're the first person I want to tell, so...call me. Tomorrow on your drive to work or home...call me at four in the morning...whatever, we gotta talk." He paused for a moment. "Please, Veronica," he said quietly and then disconnected the call.

Logan was hurt and confused. Sure, they were both busy, but until recently, they'd always made time for each other. He knew that Veronica was busy proving herself at work, but he also knew that she regularly spent time with Duncan and talked to Lilly. Her rejection of just him in particular was becoming more and more obvious.

When Logan's phone rang, he jumped in anticipation. His hands shook a little bit, and he laughed at his own nerves. But the caller wasn't Veronica. He smiled when he saw Philippa's name and connected the call. "Hey, Beautiful. Miss me already?"

"Hm...yeah, like the deserts miss the rain!" Philippa's voice was dry but sure and confident; it helped to settle Logan's nerves.

"Such lies, Phil. I'm irresistible and you know it. My charm is magnetic," Logan pressed.

"Darling, if your head grows any bigger, you won't fit onto the plane." Logan laughed hard at that. "But as to the real reason for my call, I just sent you an email. Congratulations, by the way."

Logan pulled out his laptop, preferring to not have to read his email via phone while he talked. "On the foundation? Didn't we have a congratulatory dinner last week with your dad?" Logan asked, accustomed to playing word games with her.

"No, that's not it. Do you see the link?"

Logan did and clicked it open. He laughed at the shots of the two of them dancing. "Oh, our engagement! Did I ask you to marry me? How'd I miss that?" he quipped into the phone.

"I missed it too, but you know that the Mirror always knows about these things first. At least you look brilliant. I look like a complete cow. Did they have to use a picture where my head is thrown back like a bloody idiot? I guess I should just be happy that we're clothed this time. I swear the last set of us in the Sun showed actual back fat around my bikini strap."

Despite her words, Logan knew that Philippa was just as amused as he was. "Yes, at least this time we have all our clothes on. They really are vicious in London. You've got to come visit me. They'll leave us alone in LA. There are so many other more interesting people doing far more hedonistic things than we do."

"I'll get out there when I can. Besides, I think you'll be quite busy in California. You finally have time to win over your ladylove. And seeing as how some wanker photographer got a small fortune for these pictures, those dance lessons better not have gone to waste. I want to see you two on the cover of a tabloid in the very near future. Even if it's just to say you're cheating on me," Philippa insisted.

"Well that would require her actually taking my calls, so I'm not so sure." Logan paused for a moment, listening to an announcement. "Hey, Phil, I gotta run. They've just made the final call. I'm about to board."

"All right, let me know you've arrived safely. And don't worry too much about Veronica. She's probably just busy. Just use your irresistibly magnetic charm," she whispered the last conspiratorially.

Logan rolled his eyes at her using his own words against him. "Haha. Very funny. I hope you're right. I'll text you when I land." With that, Logan disconnected the call, quickly gathered his belongings and made his way up to the gate.

Once he was settled in his seat, his thoughts traveled back to Veronica. He couldn't, for the life of him, figure out why she was so difficult to reach these days. When he'd met up with Lilly, she seemed unable to offer any sort of explanation of Veronica's avoidance, and for once, Logan had actually believed her. He'd seen Duncan when he'd popped to the East coast last month, and Duncan had mentioned spending time with Veronica when he visited California. His friend hadn't given any indication that something was amiss with Veronica.

It was driving him crazy that just when he'd finally gotten to where he wanted to be, she was pulling away from him. Even though he hadn't gotten his life together for her per se, it had been because of her that was the point. Because of Veronica, he'd wanted to become a better person for himself. She'd found her calling and traipsed off to Palo Alto for law school, and left him empty and, for the first time, cognizantly aware that he had no purpose. It was a novel idea that had shocked him as much as anyone else...the day that he'd realized that rather than rebel against all the crap of his childhood in an effort to prove how pissed off he was, he'd be better served becoming a success in spite of his past. Veronica had tried to tell him before, but he hadn't been ready to hear it. That afternoon in the coffee shop in Neptune had always had him thinking of her, but he hadn't been sure of how to start. Or what to do.

Then a trip to the Balboa County Sheriff's Department had pushed the point home and given him direction.

Logan had found himself at the sheriff's department paying off a parking ticket. He'd known Keith Mars since he and Veronica were kids, so he had brought him some lunch. The sheriff came out of his office to greet Logan at the exact moment Deputy Lamb had hauled some drunken waste of a human being into the building. A woman and her young son were trailing behind them, pleading with the officer to let her husband go. The woman was bruised and battered and the little boy was filthy.

Logan had felt a cold blast of air rush over him despite the warm temperature in the room. He was looking at his life if he had been an '02er. Aaron's wealth and social standing had kept his family out of situations exactly like this. Logan felt his stomach turn. He looked down at the receipt in his hand for the ticket and realized that his business was complete. He tossed the sheriff's to-go bag of lunch on the counter and silently escaped the building as fast as his legs could carry him.

This visit to the sheriff's station and the subsequent epiphany had happened at a time when Logan had no direction. The previous spring, Veronica had dropped the bombshell that she'd be quitting her Criminal Justice master's program at San Diego State and would be leaving for law school at Stanford. It had been a whirlwind decision from his perspective and had left him without friends nearby for the first time. He'd been jealous of her ambition and determinedness. The closest thing he'd had to success of his own making had been the 'grade your ass' website back at Hearst. He'd thought it was funny at the time, but Veronica had called it lazy. She was right. He was lazy.

But the trip to the station had gotten him thinking. He began visiting Keith more often and bringing him lunch, trying to get a feel for how he could turn his father's millions into something real. Something important. When the topic of victim's rights had come up, Logan had tentatively mentioned the idea to Veronica, and, to his surprise, she hadn't laughed at him. Things had just grown from there.

He was surprised when he had really begun to enjoy the process of making a business plan, but even then he hadn't realized that it would soon become his passion. It hadn't taken long for the foundation to become his whole world. His natural charisma and charm combined with his family's connections had turned his little project into a massive philanthropic foundation. He had to admit that even he was a little surprised and proud of what he has achieved.

With hard work and dedication, he had managed to make his own way in the world. He had grown up a lot in the past few years and had decided to use the Echolls fortune and name in the last way his father would understand; he helped other people.

Logan smiled when he thought back to the person he'd been in high school. He hadn't been cruel like some people, but he'd been an entitled jackass. On the outside, his life had been perfect—the handsome multi-millionaire son of two successful Hollywood starlets. He didn't like to think about what things would have been like if he hadn't had his friends—if he hadn't had Lilly, Duncan, and Veronica to keep him on track. He shuddered at the thought of what he might have become.

Now he spent his free time schmoozing lobbyists and investors on the golf course and in the boardroom, and his idea of a wild night was a black tie charity dinner. He'd spent a great deal of time these past few months working with organizations similar to his on the East Coast and, more recently, in the UK. His famous parents had opened doors for him, but he had made a name for himself because of his hard work. And he loved it. He loved that he was making a difference. And now that things were well underway with the foundation in England, he was happy that he had the time to come back and win Veronica over. And ahead of the silly deadline he'd set for them years ago.

I almost forgot to post today. There was a little back story for you.

Thanks for all the reads and comments. I like hearing what you guys think of things.

As always, thanks to brittany4824 and kmd0107 for their beta magic.