January 2019
Veronica sits on the bed, Pony curled up beside her, watching Logan move fluidly around the bedroom, reaching for various articles of clothing and folding them neatly into his military-issue duffle bag.
"I can't believe I have to say goodbye to you again," she says, her fingers stroking the dog's soft, silky fur.
"I know, I'm sorry," Logan replies, as he strides into the bathroom, reappearing a couple of moments later with a can of deodorant and his toothbrush. "But it's only for a few weeks, and it's not like it's a deployment; we'll see each other whenever we can. And we can talk or message anytime."
"Yeah, I know." She nods. "But it's our anniversary in two weeks, and we're not even gonna be in the same state."
She sighs with frustration, annoyance building until she can't keep it in any longer.
"Logan, I'm fed up of not being able to celebrate all the important things with you." She tries not to let him hear the slight wobble in her voice as she continues, "In the last three years, you've been away for two of your birthdays, one of mine, one Christmas, two Easters, two 4th of July's, one Thanksgiving… and we're about to spend our first wedding anniversary apart too."
He stops, putting down the shirt he's in the middle of folding, and slides onto the bed beside her.
"I know. It really sucks. I didn't want to miss any of those either." He reaches for her hand. "Look, I'll see what I can do about coming home in two weeks, okay? I'll try to swing a flight back for the weekend. Hell, I'll even hire a plane and fly it myself if I have to."
Veronica blinks, touched. "You'd do that?"
A slow smile spreads across his face as his hand slides around the back of her neck. He leans forward, dropping a kiss to her forehead.
"Of course I would," he says softly. "We'll spend it together, I promise."
She smiles with relief, before holding up a finger in warning. "I'm gonna hold you to that."
"It's nine weeks, Veronica," he says. "What's nine weeks to us, huh?"
The soft smile on his face shows he remembers exactly when he said similar words to her before and Veronica can't help returning the smile.
"Epic, right?"
"Epic." Logan agrees, grinning fully now, tilting his head down so their foreheads are touching, his fingers gently massaging her neck. "Years. Continents. All that."
"Don't forget the bloodshed."
"Or those pesky ruined lives."
She nods solemnly. "Nope, can't forget those either."
"No," he agrees, kissing her once more. "Love you."
"Love you, too."
He pulls back, sliding off the bed and reaching for the shirt again, folding it and placing it in his bag. Veronica goes back to watching in silence as he finishes packing, her eyes following his movements.
When he finally zips the bag closed, she slides off the bed, leaving Pony to get comfortable, and without a word, takes his hand and leads him into the bathroom. He doesn't question it, just follows obediently, following her lead as she turns on the shower, then pulls her top over her head.
They undress in silence, understanding passing between them, and step under the hot, steaming flow of water together. Logan wastes no time in reaching for her, pulling her against him. She goes willingly, arms sliding around his back, forehead dropping to his chest. They stand together under the spray for a moment and Veronica savours the embrace, but it's not long before Logan's hands begin to wander, cupping her bottom as his head dips, mouth finding her neck.
"You know, I have to leave soon," he mumbles against her skin. "We don't have much time."
"I know, but we should make the most of it," Veronica mumbles, tilting her head to give him more access. "Before the dry spell."
He chuckles, lifting his head to grin down at her. "We've been making the most of it for the last two weeks. I'm surprised you're not fed up with all the sex yet."
"With you? Never," she declares.
"Good answer."
"So now we've established that, what are you waiting for?" she baits. "I need to be ravished, Lt. Echolls."
"Geez, so demanding." Logan's fingers squeeze into her flesh, pressing her lower body firmly against his, making her gasp in response.
"And I make no apologies for it," Veronica responds, moving her hands to his shoulders, using them as leverage to jump up, her legs coming around his waist.
Logan smiles predatorily as he adjusts his grip on her, lifting her hips into position. Veronica's eyes slide closed involuntarily as he slides inside; it feels amazing: skin on skin. It's been two weeks since they stopped using protection and she's still not quite used to it yet. Logan's the only person she's been with like this—that she's consciously aware of anyway, but she chooses not to think about that night at Shelley's party—and that only makes every time with him even more special.
He wasn't lying—they have been doing it a lot in the last two weeks—partly because they don't know how often they'll be together over the next couple of months and they might as well get a head start on the whole baby-making thing, but also because Veronica just can't seem to get enough of him right now. Maybe it's hormones, maybe it's some weird primitive drive inside her... or maybe it's because it just feels so damn good.
"Hey..." Logan's voice pulls her from her thoughts and she turns her attention to him. He supports her back against the shower wall so he can slip a finger beneath her chin and says softly, "You're in your head. Everything okay?"
"Yeah." Veronica gives him a genuine smile, sliding her arms around his neck and leaning up for a kiss. "Everything's great."
True to his word, twelve days later, Logan is back on a plane to San Diego from Nevada. There was too much lying snow between the base and Reno to risk driving to the airport and flying commercial, but he wasn't going to let Veronica down. He eventually managed to talk his way onto a military passenger flight heading back to North Island Friday evening and returning Sunday night.
"So, how was the rest of this week?" Veronica asks as she drives them back up to Neptune after meeting him at the base.
They haven't spoken since Tuesday because his flights have been scheduled for late in the day and she's been snowed under with casework and stake-outs.
Logan lets his head fall back against the headrest as he exhales heavily. "Intense. Exhausting. You know, it's nothing like in the movie."
"I know, you've been telling me that for years."
"There are no topless volleyball games on the beach…" he continues, pausing as he debates what he just said, "... or you know, in the desert. There's no singing in bars, no sexy civilian instructors—"
"Careful," warns Veronica, though there's a smile tugging at her lips.
"Sorry, Bobcat," he placates playfully, "you know you're the only sexy civilian I want instructing me."
"That's better." She shoots him a smile, before turning back to the subject. "So it's tough? Are you regretting it?"
"God, no. Not at all," he says immediately. "It's fucking Top Gun, Veronica."
"I know." She smiles, her eyes staying on the road.
"Just gotta take in in my stride," he adds, unable to stifle a yawn.
"If you're tired, take a nap." Veronica says. "I have big plans for tonight; you're gonna need your strength."
Logan gives a chuckle. "I am, huh?"
"It's been almost two weeks… you bet you are."
Silence falls between them as Logan considers asking a question that's been on his mind the last few days. He decides to just go for it. "Hey, so, any news on the, uh, baby front? You haven't mentioned it in a while."
Veronica shakes her head. "No, nothing yet. But you know, it can take a couple of months after coming off the pill for anything to happen. Let's just see how it goes, yeah?"
"Okay." He nods in understanding. "Let's do that."
He still hasn't completely got his head around the fact they're really doing this; trying to have a baby. Those couple of weeks before he left for Nevada were a whirl of holiday celebrations and fun… they didn't exactly have much time to think about the reality of it all.
"Great," says Veronica. "Besides, we're not gonna have much opportunity to try over the next few weeks."
Logan smiles widely. "Well, we'll just have to spend all the time we have in bed."
"Or in the shower," she counters with a mischievous grin.
"On the sofa."
"Kitchen counter."
"The beach."
"Oh, eww, no." Veronica shakes her head vehemently. "Remember the last time we tried that? I got sand in places I'd rather not mention. I was sore for days afterwards."
"Yeah, I remember." He winces, reconsidering. "Okay, not the beach, then."
"I'm sure we'll find an alternative."
"Yeah, we will." He nods in agreement.
The conversation comes to a natural end then, so Logan settles back in the passenger seat of Veronica's SUV and allows himself to doze for a while, the stress of the last couple of weeks catching up with him. He doesn't wake until Veronica pulls up outside their house. And he's glad he got the rest because the minute they get inside and Logan's said a quick hello to an excited Pony, Veronica grabs him and pulls him into the bedroom for some much-needed lovemaking.
Midday on Saturday finds the gang gathering at Logan and Veronica's for a barbecue. The first to arrive is Dick, carrying a six-pack and a bag of chips. With a quick hello to Veronica, he heads out back to help Logan get the grill started. Veronica's just removing a batch of blueberry muffins from the oven when Mac and Wallace show up, armed with potato salad and a large apple pie, followed by Chaos and Sarah a couple of minutes later. As Chaos and Wallace grab some drinks and head outside to catch up with Logan, the girls stay in the kitchen to help Veronica with the side dishes and desserts.
"So?" Mac leans on the counter, raising her eyebrows expectantly.
"So... what?" says Veronica as she extracts the muffins from the tin and places them on a cooling rack.
"So, what's it like being married to a Top Gun pilot?"
"He's only just started the training, Mac," says Veronica. "I can't even answer that yet."
"Oh, please." Mac waves away her excuse. "Like you don't think it makes him even sexier."
Veronica bites her lip, glancing toward the French doors leading out to the sundeck, where she can see a glimpse of Logan standing at the grill.
"Yeah, okay… it's pretty effin' sexy," she relents. "But I'm trying not to get all swoony and gushy over it."
"Why not?" Mac frowns. "You're not worried about over-inflating Logan's ego, are you, because he seems pretty humble about it to me. And, I mean, it's not like you're an adoring fangirl; you're his wife, you're allowed to be proud of him."
"It's not that." Veronica shakes her head. "He's pretty stressed right now, and exhausted. They're working him so hard already, and he's only two weeks in. I don't want him to feel like I'll think he's a failure if he doesn't make it."
"Wow. I didn't realise it was so hard," Mac says. "You just assume it's all cool and exciting, like in the movies."
"Yeah, I know. I thought that too at first, even though Logan's always said it's totally different." Veronica sighs. "But when you see firsthand the toll it takes, it makes you realise it's not all fun and games."
"Don't I know it," pipes up Sarah. "I mean, Tim loves what he does and I'll always support him, but when you think about how dangerous and stressful it is, and that there's every chance he won't come home at all, it can really get to you. And that's just me; I hate to think what it does to him."
Veronica nods in sympathy. Logan seems to have worked through his post-deployment issues now, at least on the outside, but despite their efforts to open up to each other, she's sure there must be some things he's holding back on.
"Oh God, I'm sorry." Mac groans. "This is supposed to be a fun afternoon and I'm making it all melancholy. Let's just change the subject, okay?"
"Yeah, let's do that," Veronica agrees quickly, before fixing Mac with an impish smile. "So, Mac, how was your big date last night? We want all the details."
Out on the sundeck, Chaos, being a trained chef, has taken over the grilling duties, claiming that pampered rich boys don't have a clue how to grill steak properly. Despite being tempted to remind Chaos that he learned how to cook from him, Logan sinks into the chair beside Wallace, deciding it's easier to leave him to it.
"So, how's it's goin' at Top Gun?" Wallace asks. "Is it all shirtless volleyball and picking up hot flight instructors?"
"I wish," he quips flippantly. When Wallace shoots him a glare, he backtracks quickly, realising Veronica's best friend isn't the person to making jokes about hot women with. "Hey, I'm kidding; I'm kidding. Truth is, it's a helluva lot more intense than I thought."
"Yeah?"
"The other guys…they're the best of the best. Better than me." he continues, looking down at the drink in his hand, trying to push down his insecurities. "Some days I wonder how I even made it in."
"Aw, man, come on," Wallace says. "From what I hear, you're pretty badass in a plane."
"Got that right," Chaos pipes up from the grill, turning to point the barbecue tongs in their direction. "Mouth, you're fucking good. Don't sell yourself short."
"See?" Wallace tilts his beer bottle towards Chaos. "You know, I ran into Kevin Townsend a couple weeks ago."
"Really?" Logan blinks at the sudden change in subject. "How's he doing?"
Kevin Townsend was the kid from Neptune High that Logan helped just over a year ago. Wallace had been concerned that the boy was being abused at home, and after Dick helpfully put his foot in it by revealing that Aaron had been an abusive father, Logan had offered to talk to the kid, see if he could offer some support. By that point though, school was about to let out for the summer, so he didn't actually meet the boy until the Fall semester. It turned out Kevin had expressed an interest in aerospace engineering, so Wallace arranged for Logan to give a career talk to the senior physics class.
The idea was to try to engage with the kid, offer some encouraging support under the guise of career advice and see if he opened up on his own. It went pretty well, with Kevin expressing a keen interest in military aviation, which eventually led to Logan giving him a tour of the base and his jet. It was in the middle of the otherwise empty squadron crew room, while they were munching on candy bars, that Kevin finally admitted that he was desperate to get away from his home life and that he was considering joining the military as his way out. It was then that Logan confessed he knew what it was like, to want to get out, to need to escape, and they'd bonded over fast planes and a shared hate for fucked-up asshole fathers.
"Yeah, yeah, he's good." Wallace nods. "He's in college now. Got into ROTC—they're funding his degree."
"That's great." He nods in approval. "He finally got out."
"Yeah, he did. Seems happy, too," says Wallace. "He asked about you. I told him you'd made it to Top Gun. He was very impressed."
"Yeah?" Logan can't help but smile at that.
"God, yeah. In fact, his exact words were 'Dude, that's fucking awesome. He's the best pilot I know.'"
"I'm the only pilot he knows." Logan points out dryly.
"Not the point, dude." Wallace shakes his head. "That kid looks up to you. You're his inspiration; you're proof that you can overcome some Godawful, horrible shit and still make something of yourself."
Logan opens his mouth to respond, but Veronica chooses that moment to step out of the house, followed by Sarah and Mac, and perches herself on his knee.
"So, is all this delicious food we can smell ready to eat yet?" she asks, sliding an arm around his shoulder.
"Almost," Chaos replies, as Sarah joins him by the grill. "Just a couple more minutes."
"Great. I'm starving." Veronica leans over to give Logan a quick kiss before standing up again and looking down at him. "Can you help me bring the rest out?"
"Sure."
Five minutes later, side dishes are set out on the table, the steaks are done and everyone's eagerly tucking in.
"So, I have some news," states Chaos between bites.
"Yeah?" says Logan, looking up from his plate. "What's up?"
"You're gonna have company over at Oceana," says Chaos. "Turns out they're short an instructor, so they've reassigned me to Virginia."
"Seriously?" Logan breaks out into a grin. "That's great, man."
"You're all going?" Veronica directs her question to Sarah.
"Yeah." Sarah nods. "Tim has to be out there in a couple weeks, then Ava and I will fly over when we've got everything sorted out with the house."
"This is great." Veronica smiles widely. "I won't be alone in Virginia anymore."
"Hey, what am I, chopped liver?" Logan protests. "I'll be there too, you know."
"You know what I mean." She waves a hand in his direction. "I've been trying to decide what to do every day while you're working. At least Sarah, Ava and I will have each other for company."
"Aw, the gang's all breaking up," says Dick suddenly, looking between Mac and Wallace. "Looks like it's just gonna be the three of us, guys. We'll have slumber parties and get high together and—"
"Stop right there, Dick." Mac holds up a hand, glaring at him in warning.
"Yeah, I ain't slumber-partying with you, dude."
Logan smirks at Dick's crestfallen expression, before catching Veronica's gaze. Her eyes are shining with happiness as she smiles back at him, and suddenly moving to Virginia doesn't seem so bad after all.
Veronica wakes the next morning cocooned in Logan's arms. Eyes still closed, she smiles, snuggling closer, savouring the feel of being surrounded by him.
"Mmm." Logan's rumbling voice sounds in her ear as he shifts behind her, his hand flattening over her stomach, his nose pressing against the back of her neck. "Morning."
"Hmm," is all she can manage in reply.
"Happy Anniversary."
His voice is gravelly, filled with sleep, but Veronica's not surprised; after what was supposed to be a relaxing evening watching a movie turned into making out, then more than making out, on the sofa, they didn't make it to bed until after midnight, and even then, it was another two hours before they actually fell asleep.
"Happy Anniversary," she mumbles, still unwilling to open her eyes. He presses himself even closer and she adds, "If you're expecting sex right now, it's not happening, mister. You wore me out last night."
He chuckles breathily, kissing the side of her neck. "Don't worry, you wore me out, too. I'm just enjoying being close to you."
"Hmm… me, too."
"Here's an idea: let's just stay like this all day." He presses his lips to the base of her neck this time. "We'll just veg out, be lazy. We don't even have to get dressed."
"Sounds good to me."
She turns in his arms so they're face-to-face, her legs entwining with his as she kisses him properly. Of course that's the moment that Pony starts scratching at the door and lets out a low whine. Veronica groans, dropping her forehead to Logan's chest. His hand comes up to cup the back of her head, cradling her against him.
"So much for that, huh?" she mutters in disappointment.
"She wants her morning walk."
"I know."
"Hey, how about this," he suggests, "if you can take her out, I'll whip up an extra special breakfast for when you get back."
Veronica grins to herself, feeling a rush of affection towards him, before she lifts her head to look at him. "Yeah?"
"Uh huh." He returns her smile, looking gorgeous, all sleepy and rumpled, his hair sticking up all over the place. "With all the extras, just like you like."
"Mmm." She takes his chin between her thumb and forefinger and angles her face up for a kiss. "Best husband ever."
"I try." He grins.
She shifts away, sliding out of the bed and pads naked across the room, feeling Logan's eyes on her as she searches for something to wear.
She finds a shirt—the one Logan was wearing yesterday—and tugs it over her head, foregoing a bra, before good-naturedly throwing over her shoulder, "Hey, quit ogling me and go get started on that breakfast, will ya?"
With a chuckle, Logan sits up and pushes back the covers, then reaches for a pair of boxers and tugs them on. Veronica can't help giving him a once-over as he stands and gives her a salute.
"Aye, aye, ma'am."
As he saunters past her, he leans in close to her ear and whispers, "Now who's ogling?"
She tries to swat his arm, but he dodges her hand and darts toward the door, where Pony is not-so-patiently waiting for her walk on the other side.
"Come on, Pone," says Logan, pulling the door closed behind him so Pony doesn't bound right toward her. "Let's get you ready while Mommy finishes getting dressed."
Veronica returns from walking Pony to find the dining table laid and decorated with a small vase containing flowers from the driveway. In the kitchen, Logan has put on a shirt and is flipping pancakes, the aroma of the sizzling bacon in the other pan making Veronica's mouth water. She smiles, letting Pony off her leash and crossing the room. Placing her hand against his lower back, she leans up and presses a kiss to his cheek.
"Hey, you're back." He smiles. "Good walk?"
"Pony enjoyed it," she says. "I, on the other hand, was just trying to stay awake. You're a bad influence, Lt. Echolls."
He raises an amused eyebrow. "Oh, I'm a bad influence? Remind me who kept us up until two a.m. because she needed just one more orgasm, and then another, and another?"
Veronica feels her cheeks flush, though she refuses to apologise for her sexual desires. Instead, she tosses out an airy, "Gotta get 'em when I can," and turns to leave the room.
"Hey, where are you going?" he calls after her. "It's almost ready."
She stops just before she rounds the corner. "Shower. I'll be quick."
"You'd better be, otherwise this breakfast I've been slaving over for the last thirty minutes is gonna get cold," Logan calls after her as she heads down the hallway.
Veronica grins to herself as she enters the bedroom and tugs off her clothes on the way to the bathroom. True to her word, she showers quick, then runs a comb through her wet hair, and tugs on some clean clothes, before grabbing Logan's anniversary present from the closet and heading back to the kitchen.
"That was quick," Logan comments as he carries two plates laden with her favourite breakfast foods over to the table. "Here, take a seat."
"This looks amazing," she says, surveying the spread as slides onto a chair, placing her gift on the table. "Thank you."
"Anything for you, my darling," he teases.
"Darling? Oh no, we're definitely not 'darling' people. That's just weird." Veronica gives a shudder of fake horror, then notices a white envelope propped against the vase in the centre of the table and smiles. "Is that for me?"
"It is," Logan confirms, then nods towards her wrapped gift. "You want to do the exchanging of gifts now?"
Veronica bites her lip, glancing between the full plates and the envelope. She's tempted, but her stomach is demanding to be fed.
"Let's eat first," she says decisively.
He grins like he was expecting that answer. "Go for it."
She tucks in, moaning with pleasure as she takes a bite of bacon, followed by a forkful of pancakes. "This is so good."
Logan chuckles. "Geez, anyone would think you hadn't eaten in a week."
She shrugs. "I've been too busy this week to actually cook breakfast. It's been coffee and cereal bars all the way."
It's not long before Veronica finishes and sits back in her chair, hand resting on her stomach.
"Man, I was hungry."
"I can tell." Logan eyes her empty plate. "You finished? There's more if you want."
"Nah, I'm stuffed."
"Okay, then." He reaches for the envelope, holds it out to her with a soft smile. "Here. Happy First Anniversary, Veronica."
"Thank you." Veronica returns the smile as she takes the envelope and turns it over. Sliding a finger beneath the flap, she pulls out a card with a silhouette of a detective and the words 'My Heart Belongs to a Private Investigator'."
"Wow." She laughs. "Nice find."
"I thought so." He grins. "Open it."
She does, frowning when she finds a smaller envelope inside. She gives him a quizzical glance, but he just gestures for her to keep going. Inside the second envelope is a single printed piece of paper. She pulls it out and her eyes widen as she reads what it says.
"What—I mean... " Looking back up at Logan in surprise, she struggles to form a coherent sentence. "Is this—?"
"Yep." He nods, his eyes dancing as he smiles. "It's an air experience flight; the first flying lesson for new trainee pilots."
"Seriously?" Veronica can't quite process this. "I'm gonna fly a plane?"
"Uh huh." His smile widens into a grin. "If you want to, that is."
Veronica looks down at it again, feeling a mix of both trepidation and excitement at the idea of flying a plane. "With you?"
"Maybe. Depends on when you can do it. It's valid for a year."
"Wow..." she murmurs incredulously. "This is just... thank you, Logan."
"My pleasure."
"God, this makes my present pale in comparison."
"I doubt that," he assures her kindly. "So, do I get to find out what it is?"
"Of course." Veronica places the card and voucher on the table and passes him her gift.
He takes it with a smile, unwrapping it to reveal the small, bound book she made for him. Veronica bites her lip, watching with anticipation for his reaction as he opens the cover. After a few moments of flipping through the pages, Logan looks up at her with an expression that she can't quite place.
"Veronica..."
"You like it?"
"This is... God..."
He looks awed and Veronica shrugs self-consciously.
"I thought you could keep it with you when you're away. To remind you of me."
With the first anniversary being Paper, Veronica spent weeks trying to figure out what she could give Logan. After conducting about a dozen Google searches and only finding standard cheesy romantic fare, she turned to Mac for advice and together, they put together a photo book filled with meaningful moments from their relationship, alongside messages she'd written to him.
"Thank you," he says sincerely.
"I mean, it's no flying lesson, but—"
"I love it," he interrupts, tracing on of the pages with his fingers. "Seriously."
"I'm glad."
He grins. "Come here."
Veronica slides off her seat and moves around the table to perch on his lap. Logan's arms come around her as he kisses her gently.
"So, Mrs. Echolls, now that we've been forced out of bed, how shall we celebrate? Anything you want."
Veronica grins mischievously. "Anything?"
"No, wait. I take that back." Logan quickly backtracks. "I don't like that look in your eye."
"Aww, you afraid of little ol' me?" she teases. "Don't worry. I'm not gonna make you do anything you don't want to."
"You better not. I'm a respected Navy officer, remember?"
"Navy officer? Yeah…" she muses. "Respected? Not so sure."
He frowns in mock offence. "Shut up."
She flashes a smile. "I love you, honey."
"Hmm, if you say so."