Chapter Thirty-Three
Late June 2021 – Fourteen-and-a-Half Months Old (and Twenty-One Weeks Along)
Logan wakes with a soft groan, stretching his arms above his head before slowly blinking his eyes open. Rubbing the sleep from them, he frowns when he sees Veronica across the room, fully dressed and putting the finishing touches to her make-up.
"What are you doing up at—" he glances at the clock "—eight on a Saturday morning?"
"I promised Dad I would help him wrap up a case this morning," she says, reaching for her hairbrush. "Marcia has something wedding-related planned for this afternoon, and if I don't go help out, he'll be stuck in the office all day."
For a moment, Logan watches the brush glide through her blonde locks. Her hair is shorter now than it was last year, when it fell halfway down her back. But when Abi started grabbing at it every time she nursed, Veronica finally decided enough was enough, and cut it all off. Well, not all—that's an exaggeration—but it now only falls a couple of inches below her shoulders. It looks good on her though. Especially when she styles it in soft waves like she has today.
His eyes travel down over her figure; she looks amazing. He knows she'd argue she's fat and bloated right now, but honestly, to him, she's never looked more beautiful. Now if only he could persuade her to blow off Keith this morning… and maybe blow him instead. He catches her gaze in the mirror and she raises an eyebrow, as if she knows exactly what thoughts are running through his head right now.
He quickly schools his expression and frowns, his lower lip jutting in out in a playful pout.
"But, I thought we were gonna spend the day together?" he says. "You know it's my last weekend here before I fly out to Nevada. I was all looking forward to it and everything."
A smirk playing on her lips, Veronica shakes her head. "It's only for this morning. I'll be back in time for lunch… and then we can spend the rest of the day and all of tomorrow together. Besides, this'll give you some of that daddy-daughter time with Abi you've been saying you want more of."
"True." He gives a nod, before glancing around in puzzlement. "Hey, where is Abs?"
"She's up," Veronica tells him, putting down the brush and smoothing her hair into place. "Last I looked in on her, she was happily babbling away to the toys in her crib."
Logan smiles, warmth flooding his chest at the thought of his baby girl having nonsensical conversations with her favourite teddy bear. She's growing up so fast, he thinks. Won't be long before she's stringing actual sentences together.
Veronica turns and crosses the room toward him. Kneeling on the bed, she leans over and kisses him softly.
"Okay, gotta go."
As she moves to stand, Logan reaches out to stop her, gently wrapping his fingers around her wrist. "Hey, wait."
She stops, looking down at him quizzically. "What?"
He releases her wrist, then pulls himself up to a sitting position as he studies her with concern. "You look tired."
She shrugs. "So? I'm growing a little human inside me. Being tired is pretty much par for the course."
"No. I mean, I know that, but it's more than that," he tries to explain. "You've been doing a lot lately, working all hours on cases and looking after Abi, too. I just think maybe you're overdoing things a bit?"
"I'm fine, Logan." She bristles. "I'm not gonna stop working just because I'm pregnant. I didn't with Abi, remember?"
"Yeah, but with Abi, you also didn't have a toddler at home already," he reasons. "Look, it's your body and I'm not gonna tell you what to do, but I just think you deserve a break. You know, a bit of time to relax and unwind."
"I don't have time to unwind," she protests. "I have cases to solve and a living to earn."
"I mean," he continues. "I thought maybe, while I'm away, you might feel like taking a few days off." He gives a shrug. "It would mean less pressure on you to take care of Abi on your own while working too, and you could spend some quality time with her before the baby's born."
Veronica looks sceptical. "I don't know, Logan. What about Heather? And I can't just abandon my dad like that."
"It's just a suggestion, Veronica. I'm sure you can work something out." He sighs softly. "Think about it, okay?"
"Okay," she mutters reluctantly, starting to move off the bed. "But right now, I have to go."
"Not so fast, missy," he reaches for her again, his hand coming to her belly. "I haven't said goodbye to this little one yet."
She rolls her eyes, but a small smile plays on her lips as she moves a little closer and rises up on her knees.
Logan leans forward and whispers to her stomach, "Be good for mommy today, okay?"
He presses a gentle kiss to her belly, then startles backward, his eyes going wide when he feels movement under his hand.
"Oh my God." He looks up at Veronica, whose mouth has dropped open in surprise. "Was that the first kick?"
"Uh huh." She looks a little shell-shocked as her hand covers his. "It was."
"Think he'll do it again?" He looks up at her eagerly.
"I don't know." She smiles. "But I really do have to get going now."
"Okay, okay. Go," he says. "I need to get Abi up anyway."
"I'll see you later, okay?" she says, leaning forward to kiss him again.
He nods. "Text me when you're done, and we'll meet you somewhere for lunch."
"Will do."
With one last kiss, she slips off the bed, grabs her bag and heads out of the bedroom. Logan flops back against the pillows, a wide smile on his face.
His baby just kicked. His little boy.
He only gets a few seconds to bask though, because as soon as the front door shuts behind Veronica, the sounds of Abi's frustrated cries filter in from down the hallway. With another groan, he drags himself out of bed and heads for her room.
She's standing up in her crib, arms outstretched, her face red and screwed up, tears leaking from her eyes.
"Hey, baby girl," murmurs Logan, reaching the crib and deftly lifting her up into his arms. "What's wrong, huh?"
"Dadda!" she exclaims, leaning over, her hand reaching out toward the floor.
Logan looks down and finally realises what's got her so worked up. Mr. Cuddles-that aforementioned favourite teddy bear—is lying face-down on the floor instead of resting happily in the crib.
"Oh, did Mr. Cuddles take a tumble? Poor guy," he says, crouching down to retrieve the beloved bear. He hands it to her as he stands up. "Here you go, sweetie."
Her tears now stopping, Abi grabs it tightly, hugging the bear to her chest, and the sight of her determined yet thankful expression, so much like Veronicas, makes his chest tighten with emotion. He smiles widely.
"All better now?" He bounces her in his arms. "Come on, let's get you changed and dressed."
When Abi's ready for the day, he carries her into the master bedroom and lets her play with a couple of toys in the middle of the bed while he gets dressed, then they head into the kitchen for breakfast. Next up is a walk along the beach with Pony, followed by an hour of stacking building blocks and reading stories together.
As Logan sits on the couch, Abigail nestled against him, grabbing the wooden book and trying to turn all the pages while he attempts to actually read it, he can't keep the grin off his face. This parenthood thing, while tough and exhausting, really is the most awesome experience, and it's in moments like this that he can't even remember what he was so worried about. Abi is the best thing to ever happen to him—other than falling in love with Veronica, of course—and soon he's going to have a son too.
Early July 2021 – Almost Fifteen Months Old (and Twenty-Three Weeks Along)
Veronica hoists Abigail up into her lap at the dining table as she presses the 'call' button on Skype. Logan messaged earlier to say he'd be free to chat this afternoon, and even though he's only been in Nevada for four days, it's the longest they've been apart since Abi was born and Veronica is eager to see and talk to him.
Thank God he won't be going on any long deployments anytime soon, she muses as she waits for him to answer. Not sure I could survive for that long with two kids at home.
In her lap, Abi starts to wriggle, whining to get down, but Veronica holds her tightly so she can't escape.
"Come on, sweet thing, you gotta sit still," she says, reaching across the table for the sippy cup of juice she's been trying to get Abi to drink for the last half-hour. "You want to see Daddy, don't you?"
"Dadda!" Abi exclaims then, leaning forward suddenly and stretching out towards the laptop, almost causing Veronica to drop the cup as she rights herself.
"Hey, baby girl," comes Logan's amused voice through the laptop speaker.
"Dadda!" Abi rises up on Veronica's knees and plants her hands on the screen.
"Oh, Abi, no," Veronica says in dismay, as she places the cup down on the table and pulls her daughter back down onto her lap. "Don't touch the screen. Now Daddy's face is all smudged up."
Logan chuckles in response. "That's one I haven't heard before."
"Sorry," Veronica apologises, handing Abi her cup of juice, which she proceeds to bang against the table-top. "She's a little hyper today."
"How's everything going?" asks Logan. "Enjoying your time off?"
It only took a couple of days of consideration, and a quicker-than-expected solving of her latest case, for her to decide that Logan's suggestion to take a couple of weeks off while was away was a good one. Not only is it a good opportunity for her to spend some quality time with Abi without work getting in the way, but it gives Heather some vacation time as well.
"For the most part," Veronica tells him with a wry smile. "But this one—" she jiggles Abi in her lap, then runs a hand over her soft blonde hair "—has decided to get into everything this week. Can't take my eyes off her for a minute without her sticking her nose into something or other."
Logan smirks. "Sounds like someone else I know."
"Hey!" Veronica exclaims in mock offense.
He waggles a finger at her. "Don't forget, your dad has told me all the stories about how inquisitive you were at her age."
"Oh, and you were so much better?" she counters.
He shrugs, unconcerned. "Well, you'll never know, will you? All the people who could confirm or deny that are dead."
For a moment, Veronica feels guilty for bringing it up, but Logan smiles again then, seemingly not bothered by the reminder, and she relaxes.
"All going well out there?" she asks, changing the subject.
"Eh." Logan gives another shrug. "Not much to report, really. It's just your standard exercise."
"That's good, I guess."
"Yeah…" Logan trails off, looking thoughtful. "I miss you guys."
Veronica smiles softly. "We miss you, too. Don't we, Abs?"
Abi pulls the cup from her mouth and answers with a "Dadda!"
Veronica grins. "I think that's a yes."
Logan's expression turns serious then.
"I didn't think it'd be this hard," he admits. "Being away from her for this long."
"Yeah, I know," Veronica agrees. "Good thing you got the PFI gig then, huh?"
"It is." Logan smiles widely for a moment before he straightens up. "Oh, speaking of, I just got confirmation this morning of where I'll be stationed."
"And?" Veronica's heart stutters, suddenly overcome with nerves. She's not sure what she'll do if Logan is not assigned to San Diego again.
He must see her anxiousness, because he smiles softly. "Don't worry, it's good news: they're letting me stay at North Island."
Veronica lets out a heavy sigh of relief. "Oh, thank God."
"Believe me, I felt exactly the same when I read the email this morning."
"Can't you come home right now?" Veronica asks, only half-joking. "I feel another celebration coming on."
Logan looks wistful for a moment before his eyes twinkle and a leery smirk plays on his lips. "Tell you what, how 'bout I call you later tonight when I'm back in my room and we'll have a celebration then?"
"Yeah?" Veronica bobs her eyebrows, then catches her bottom lip between her teeth as she smiles coyly at him. "That could work."
His smirk widens into a full grin.
"It's a date," He glances at his watch. "Is twenty-one-hundred hours good for you?"
She doesn't have to work that one out anymore; five-and-a-half years with Logan and his constant use of military time have drummed the twenty-four-hour clock into her.
"It's a date," she confirms.
"Good." He nods firmly. "So, tell me about your week. What have you and the little munchkin been up to?"
At exactly nine p.m.—sorry, twenty-one-hundred hours—after she's gotten Abi down to sleep for the night and has changed into a nightshirt, Veronica's laptop chimes with an incoming Skype call. She smiles indulgently to herself, and nerves buzzing with expectation, she slides onto the bed, pulling the computer into her lap, and accepts the call. Logan's smiling face fills the screen and she can't help but grin back at him.
"Hey."
"Hey," he responds softly, leaning back against headboard of the bed in his assigned room.
There's a moment of silence as she takes in his appearance: usually he'll Skype in his flight suit or a tight-fitting US Navy t-shirt, but tonight he's bare-chested… and she can't help but wonder if the same goes for the rest of him.
"Hmm," he breaks the silence, "alone at last."
"Uh huh," she responds, the tips of her fingers tingling with anticipation.
"So…" he murmurs leadingly.
She nods. "So…"
They stare at each other for a long moment, before Logan's lips twitch and then Veronica bursts into soft laughter.
"Shit," she utters finally, when she's stopped giggling, "anyone would think we were teenagers on an awkward first date."
On the screen, Logan shrugs. "Well, it is harder to be natural about it when the Skype sex is pre-planned."
"Harder, huh?" Veronica immediately latches onto the opportunity for innuendo. "How hard are we talking?"
"Oh…" Logan adjusts his laptop as he looks down. The simple action, followed by his next words, sends heat shooting through Veronica's belly. "Very hard."
"Fuck," she mutters under her breath, before saying aloud. "Are you naked already?"
"Almost." He smirks. "I mean, what can I say, it's fucking hot here."
Veronica's eyes roam across the image of his naked chest, all those glorious muscles on display… all for her. "Yes, it certainly is."
Logan eyes her knowingly. "Still horny, huh?"
She nods, then sighs. "God, Logan, it's never-ending. I wasn't this bad when I was pregnant with Abi, was I?"
"Hmm…" Logan tilts his head in thought, his eyes dancing playfully. "Well, I do seem to recall some very frequent and adventurous sex last time around."
"Oh God." Veronica groans. "Kill me now."
"I'd rather not," he returns with a grin. "I kind of like having you—and our unborn child—around."
"Probably not the best idea," she agrees, her thoughts drifting to what she could be doing with him if he was here.
Fuck, why did he have to choose now to go away on exercise?
"Hey, Veronica?"
"Yeah?" she returns her attention to the screen, where Logan is now looking at her with that intense, smouldering gaze she loves so much.
His voice is deceptively soft as he says, "Touch yourself for me."
Her breath catches in her throat, stomach muscles tightening involuntarily as she feels her arousal growing.
Veronica swallows, her heart pounding. "Okay."
She slides her hand down, and around her belly, and…
"Crap."
"What is it?" Logan straightens immediately. "What's wrong."
She sighs in annoyance. "It's um… kind of awkward, to you know… get there."
"Get there?" he asks in confusion, before his eyes widen in realisation. "Oh."
"Yeah," she says. "I mean, I can reach, it's just… it's not gonna be a comfortable angle."
"Really?" He looks confused. "I don't remember it being—"
She sighs again. She's gonna have to tell him.
"I've had this backache the last couple of days," she admits. "And I think maybe a couple Braxton-Hicks as well."
"Braxton-Hicks?" He looks concerned. "Isn't it a bit early for that?"
"Not really… I had them around the same time with Abi," she says. "Remember two Christmases ago, when we ended up at the hospital?"
"Ah… yeah." He nods. "I remember."
"Uh huh." She leans forward a little so she can massage her lower back with one hand. "The joys of pregnancy."
"I'm sorry," he says softly. "We don't have to… we can just talk if you want."
"Talking could work," she says with a small smile, before pausing and huffing an irritated sigh. "This sucks though. I was looking forward to alone time with you tonight."
"Me too, honeybun." He says it so affectionately that she can't bring herself to be annoyed by the endearment.
"Okay, so… talking," she starts. "So, what's new with you?"
Logan shakes his head and gives a chuckle. "We're doing small talk? Okay, then."
"Yep." She tries for upbeat and cheerful, trying not to think about the throbbing warmth low in her belly as she squeezes her thighs together in an attempt to relieve some of the tension. "So, come on. I want all the latest from Nevada."
"Well, yesterday, I—" Logan stops suddenly, frowning. "No, wait, Veronica, this is stupid. You're horny; I'm horny. I'm sure we can find a workaround here, even if it's just to help you ease that backache."
"Thank fuck for that." Veronica exhales, relieved.
Logan lets out a chuckle at her reaction, before sobering, his gaze darkening.
"Lie down, okay?" he asks softly. "Whatever position's the most comfortable."
Veronica complies, though as she moves the laptop over to Logan's side and shifts in the bed, she mutters, "Not possible. I need you here for that one."
She glances at the laptop screen to find Logan smirking at her, his eyes dancing with amusement. "Well, second-most comfortable, then."
She settles down on her side—lying on her back just makes her breathless and dizzy these days—and slides her hand under her cheek on the pillow so she can watch him as he lies down as well, mirroring her position through the screen.
Veronica smiles. "It's almost like you're really here."
"I wish I was," he admits. "Only another eight days to go."
"Are you sure you can't come back this weekend?" she asks, almost pleading. "You could fly here Friday, fly back Sunday?"
He shakes his head regretfully. "I'm sorry, I really can't. The guys are taking the jets out Friday evening, and we have a planning brief Sunday morning."
"Yeah… knew it would be wishful thinking."
"I have all night free now though," he says. "I can stay online for as long as you need."
"That would be good." She smiles softly. "Now, where were we?"
Her eyes stay trained on his face as his expression shifts from tender, to mischievous, to lust-filled, and her smiles widens as warmth blossoms in her chest, then spreads right through her body. God, she loves him so much.
Mid-August 2021 – Sixteen Months Old (and Twenty-Nine Weeks Along)
"Do you see the elephants, baby girl?" Logan points towards the large, lumbering animals as he looks down at Abigail in his arms.
In response, Abi removes her fingers from her mouth and points in the same direction, before looking up at him. "Eh-uh?"
Logan grins, his eyes widening with delight as he adjusts her on his hip. "Yes, that's right: elephants. Aren't you a good girl?"
"You realise she's called every other animal the same thing, right?" Veronica says, amusement in her tone, as she brings the stroller to a stop beside him.
"Shh," Logan scolds, though he can't stop the twitch of his lips as he does so. "You're ruining this special moment."
"Yeah, whatever."
She barely conceals her eye roll as she grabs a bottle of water and takes a long sip, then offers it to Logan. He takes it with a nod of thanks and gulps some of it down.
"God, it's hot out today." Veronica sighs, fanning herself with one hand as she supports her lower back with the other. "And it's even worse when you're six months pregnant. I'm sweating like crazy."
"I'm sorry." He gives her a sympathetic smile. "Look, the zoo café's just over there. Why don't we grab some lunch, make the most of the A/C?"
"Yes, please." She nods quickly, before leaning in towards Abi. "What do you say, sweet thing. Wanna cool down?"
"Mama," is Abi's response as she twists in Logan's arms and reaches out to her.
Veronica takes her from him and carefully tries to find room to balance Abi at her hip. "Oof, Abs. I'm getting too big for this to be comfortable."
Logan's at her side in a second. "I can take her back if you like."
"Oh no." Veronica smiles as she hugs Abi as close as she can and kisses the top of her head. "Gotta get the cuddles in while I still can. Besides, it's my birthday; are you really gonna deprive me on my birthday?"
Logan's thoughts immediately turn inappropriate in response to that, and he bobs his eyebrows suggestively. "Oh, believe me, you will not be deprived in any way on your birthday."
Her eyes widen and he grins when he sees her swallow. "Is that right, Lieutenant?"
He slides one arm around her back and leans in so his mouth is close to her ear. "You can count on it."
She shivers against him and he gives a soft chuckle as he pulls back, then nods towards the café again.
"But first, we have an afternoon at the zoo with our beautiful daughter ahead of us." His hand cups the back of Abi's head, thumb gently stroking her hair. "So, how 'bout that lunch?"
Later that night, after Abi is asleep, and Logan has thoroughly satisfied Veronica… several times, in fact… they lie spooned together in their bed, Logan's hand splayed across her rapidly-growing belly, fingers gently smoothing over her bare skin. He smiles when he's rewarded by a kick, then an elbow jab, followed by another kick.
"He's active tonight, huh?" he murmurs.
"Yeah, I know." Veronica sighs tiredly. "I'm just hoping he'll stop using me as a punching bag soon so I can actually get some sleep."
"I'm sorry." He kisses the top of her head. "Wish I could do something to help."
She places one hand over his. "You're doing more than enough."
"Still, I wish I could do more." They lie in silence for a few moments, before he speaks up again, "So, good birthday?"
She nods. "Good birthday. Thank you."
"My pleasure."
"I'm trying not to think about the fact that I'm in my mid-thirties now, though."
"I know." He agrees. It's almost surreal that they're here, given that a few years ago, he didn't even think he'd make it to his mid-twenties. "It's crazy, huh?"
"It's all right for you, mister," she quips then, "you still have seven months left of your early thirties."
"Yeah, but I can still be sympathetic to your plight," he replies with a smile, stroking his thumb over her skin.
"Oh, hey, I signed us up for that Lamaze class we were talking about. First one is next Saturday morning."
"Great," he murmurs softly, tiredness starting to catch up with him. "Did you give any more thought to names?"
"A little," she replies, entwining her fingers with his. "But I'm not having much luck. All the ones I find either remind me of someone else, or they don't go with Echolls, or I don't like their meaning." She sighs, turning her head to glance back at him. "How about you?"
"There are a couple I maybe like," he says. "But this is something I'd like us to decide together, instead of each picking different names like last time."
"Yeah, me too."
"So, let's find some time to sit down together and discuss it properly."
"Okay." She nods, then gives a one-shoulder shrug. "You know, we're together now…"
"We are," he agrees, "but it's the middle of the night, we've just had a shit-ton of sex, and honestly, I'm trying not to fall asleep on you right now."
"Fair point." She gives a soft laugh, shifting in his arms so she can look back at him properly. "Okay, you get some sleep, and maybe we can find some time to talk tomorrow."
"Sounds good to me." He smiles, pressing his lips to the tip of her nose, before kissing her mouth. "Night."
"Night, Logan."
As he reluctantly lets her go and settles on his back, she eases herself out of the bed. "Hey, where're you going?"
"I gotta pee," she says, reaching for her night-shirt and a pair of underwear. "And I need water. Back in a sec."
She heads into the bathroom and as Logan listens to the sound of her moving around in there, he rests his head on his hands and looks up to the ceiling with a wide smile.
Life is good. No, scratch that, it's fucking great.