DISCLAIMER: Characters of Veronica Mars, the canon events of their storylines, and recognizable dialogue belong to Rob Thomas.

A/N:

Chapter 3 continues a modified version of the summer months that were covered in #2.1 "Normal Is the Watchword"

Chapter 3

As the summer progressed towards its inevitable end, Dad began to get more comfortable with the idea of Weevil and I as a couple, mostly because he ended up overhearing lots of phone conversations while we were out of town. However, I'm fairly certain the turning point was the night we got back from my birthday surprise. Looking my dad in the face and telling him that we hadn't had sex was a bold move, but I think Dad appreciated the direct approach.

After that, he occasionally included Weevil in our family dinners when we were at home. Dad was making an effort to get to know him and I appreciated that.

Something else I appreciated was the fact that the manager at Java the Hut offered to let me work when I was home between book tour events. She was eager to have me continue working when school started. It made Dad happy that my part-time job would be more normal than last school year.

[

[

One night, Weevil was more contemplative than I'd ever seen him. Our conversation skirted around what kind of future we had together, with sprinkled moments of unspoken wondering. Would Neptune leave us in peace or tear us apart?

The time we had been able to spend together this summer – not to mention our many emails and phone calls – had been wonderful. When we had time to spend together, we mostly kept to ourselves. Sometimes, we did a movie night with my dad or with Wallace and Mac. Dinners with my dad or his grandma. I saw Felix or one of the other guys for a few minutes on nights I worked late. However, Weevil and I did not socialize much outside that small circle.

As we talked that night in mid-August, what we said (as much as what we didn't say) highlighted the fact that things were bound to change when school started. I wasn't sure if the change would be good or bad. Although I tried not to think about it too much, I couldn't shake the feeling that there was something going on, something he wasn't telling me. If he didn't want to worry me, his method wasn't working. It had been easier to ignore while I was out of town with Dad the past few weeks. But being face-to-face with him, knowing his mannerisms as well as I do … he was definitely holding something back.

For now, I'd let it go. Hopefully, he'd choose to tell me before I had to ask.

[

[

The weekend before school started, his family had a big party. Letty insisted that I attend. I must admit that I was a bit nervous to meet his whole family – all the cousins, aunts, uncles. Well, the ones who lived nearby, anyway.

One cousin had a larger yard and lived just down the street from Weevil. Everyone else brought extra tables to set up in the back yard. They brought whatever food Letty told them to – in everyone's eyes, she seemed to be part matriarch and part event coordinator. When I offered to bring something, she said that wasn't necessary. But Felix was nearby and overheard. He asked – no, he begged – me to bring Snickerdoodles.

After that exchange, I asked Weevil if other PCHers would also be there or if it was just family. He said a few of them might be, but not everyone. I filed that away.

[

[

The night of the party, there were so many people there that I didn't get time to talk to everyone. I think I met most of his family – at least, a brief introduction.

When food was still being prepared, Letty separated me from Weevil and steered me into the kitchen. She handed me a knife and told me to cut up whatever she gave me. At one point, she had to go outside to check on something, leaving me alone in the kitchen with several younger women whose names I'd already forgotten.

Turning my attention to my chopping duties, I noticed them giving me looks. They didn't seem to want to strike up a conversation with me. However, they did have quite a bit to say amongst themselves.

They stood just a few feet from me having a conversation entirely about me. There were questions and comments about why Weevil would date me and why I would be interested in him. They debated whether or not we'd slept together yet – or more precisely, how often we slept together – and they hypothesized what I could do for him that a neighborhood girl couldn't.

I tried not to laugh; I resisted the urge to punch them. But I never let it show that I understood almost every word of Spanish coming from their mouths.

Ten minutes of this and I was ready to go outside to find Letty. Just as I was about to put down my knife, I looked up and saw Weevil leaning against the archway between the kitchen and hallway.

He gave me a crooked smile and his eyes twinkled with mischief. Bringing a finger to his lips to tell me to stay quiet, he walked up behind the girls. "Running your mouths again?"

They all jumped and looked at one another, wondering how long he'd been there.

"I was only here for the last minute or so." He laughed and pointed at me. "But she was here the whole time."

They looked confused.

He looked directly at me as he said, "Nena, dime. Ahora." His words were a demand, but his tone was gentle.

Shaking my head, I smiled. "Nothing worth repeating." I noticed the stunned faces around me as his expression insisted that I answer him. My tone was unusually sweet as I gave in to his request. "They can't seem to figure out what you see in me or why I'm with you. They used some slang, a few things I'm pretty sure weren't meant as flattery."

He walked around the table toward me. "Like what?" He put one hand on the small of my back and pulled me up against him.

"One time, I heard the word strawberry, but I doubt they think I'm sweet. They were also speculating about the amount of sex we're having and … they seem to be more than a little curious about what we do … when we do it." Turning to look at them, I asked, "Did I miss anything?"

They appeared to be appropriately embarrassed. Weevil seemed amused by the whole thing.

He laughed and then kissed my forehead. "Cariño, vamos afuera." With an arm around my waist, he led me outside. "I doubt they'll make that mistake again."

Throughout the evening, Letty made sure that I felt welcome. The fact that she liked me did not seem to go unnoticed with the older females, who quickly warmed up to me. The younger ones who had been in the kitchen were cautious with me, but eventually, a few of them semi-apologized to me.

It was later in the evening when Felix showed up. He made a beeline for me and I noticed a few people react to that. I realized that up until then, none of the younger males had spoken to me unless Weevil was beside me. When Felix put his arm around my shoulders and asked excitedly if I'd brought what he requested, a few people nearby held their breath and watched to see Weevil's reaction.

Taking in the situation, I told Felix that I wasn't sure where Weevil had put the box, but he could go ask him. He nearly bounced over to Weevil, who smiled at me as he went to get the box of Snickerdoodles.

After Felix had eaten a couple, he came over to thank me. I was standing beside Weevil, whose arm went a little tighter around my waist. A moment later, he was pulling me backward toward a chair. He sat down and I landed in his lap. I couldn't help but giggle. The whole possessive male thing boggled my mind. But I didn't mind that I was his. Didn't mind at all.

All in all, it was a nice evening. Once everyone got over the shock that Weevil had brought a girl – a white girl, no less – people stopped acting weird with me.

When everyone was heading home, we helped Letty take leftovers and serving dishes back to the house. Then, he gave me a ride home. Several people waved as we were leaving the neighborhood.

As he walked me to my door, I told him how much I enjoyed meeting his family.

"I think they liked you. Well … most of them, anyway."

I laughed at that. "I couldn't help but notice that some people were uncomfortable with the way Felix acted towards me."

"Yeah. If it were anyone but him, I'd never allow it. But I needed to make it clear that … you're with me. Only me."

"I'm missing something."

"How do I say this? If someone heard the rumors about you and saw you being friendly with more than one of us …"

"You mean more than one of the PCHers?"

"Yes ... they might come to the conclusion that …"

"I'm being passed around?"

"Yeah. Something like that. So I just needed to make it clear to everyone that although I don't mind that you're friends with Felix and that he loves your baking skills, there is a line. And it won't be crossed." Brushing my hair away from my face, he asked, "Do I want to know what's going on behind those eyes of yours?"

Finally finding words, I said, "If it were anyone other than you, this protective, possessive thing would bother me. But since it's because you want me to be safe and not have anyone say anything bad about me ..."

"Good. 'Cause with school starting … I'll put up with Wallace and Felix in your personal space, but any other guy gets within five feet of you, they're gonna be in a world of hurt."

"That's a little drastic, don't you think?"

"There are people who would mess with you just to get to me. They need to know I won't take it lightly."

"Okay, but there may be male students who hire me for my investigative skills. I may need to meet with them privately. What if I have to work with a lab partner on a project? You see what I'm getting at? It's not quite so black and white."

"I guess we can figure it out as we go. But this part is non-negotiable: you don't pull away from me in public."

"I've never done it before, have I?" I watched as he shook his head. "I get it. It's about respect. As long as I don't disrespect you, you don't look weak for treating me with respect."

"Another thing … we deal with conflict privately."

"Never been a fan of couples having arguments in public."

Hooking a finger in one of my beltloops, he gently pulled me toward him as he said, "Bésame."

"You're rather bossy tonight."

"Don't make me say it again, woman."

"Okay … but never call me 'woman' in public."

My hands moved up his arms and shoulders, continuing up his neck until they reached his head. I loved the feel of the smooth skin on his shaved head, especially while I was kissing him. Definitely on my list of favorite things. But it made me want more – more time with him, more kisses, more skin.

As if he could read my mind, he exhaled these words like a sigh, "No me canso de estar a tu lado."

[

[

School would start in two days. I had tomorrow off; tonight was my last night of work before school. Even though I would still be working at Java the Hut during the school year, there was an air of nostalgia as my last hour ticked by. Many familiar faces came and went throughout the day. Some were nameless faces I had only ever known by their regular order.

Not surprisingly, Duncan made his usual visit. We hadn't really talked since my birthday. We'd only exchanged pleasantries as I took his order. Today, he asked if we could talk when my shift ended.

"You can take the worried look off your face," he began. "When you didn't say anything about the birthday gift I left, I got the message. But I would like to talk to you before school starts. Just to clear the air?"

After I clocked out, I sat down at his table. "I only have a few minutes before I need to get going."

"I'll be quick. I was a bit thrown at the end of last year – with everything about Lilly's murder finally coming out, but also finding out that we're not related around the same time you started dating Weevil. It got me thinking … about the way things were … when we were together."

"Is that why you've been coming in here all summer? Why you broke up with Meg? Because you wanted to get back together with me?"

He didn't answer. He didn't have to. The answers to those questions were written on his face.

Looking down, I tried to gather my thoughts to respond. "I didn't say anything about your gift, because I didn't know what to say. It was sweet of you to remember my birthday, but …"

"Got it. You're over me." Playing with his coffee cup, he wouldn't meet my eyes. "I would like to try to be friends. There are very few people I can talk to about Lilly without them being weird about it. Even my parents … they just seem to want to forget it and move on." Finally, he looked up at me. "Anyway, I was hoping that if we could talk a little now, that … it wouldn't be weird if I occasionally came up to you at school and said hello … ask you about your day … complain about homework and stuff."

"In theory, that sounds fine. But you have to know that you'll be watched. If you do anything that crosses the friendship line …" I was half-teasing as I said this, but he clearly understood what I was getting at.

"You mean … if I don't want your boyfriend to rearrange my face or tape me to a flagpole, I need to keep my hands to myself?"

"Something like that." Glancing at my watch, I added, "I should get going."

"Walk you out?"

He held the door for me as we stepped outside. Walking side by side, we joked about the fact that we thought we'd care more about all the cliché senior year things that are coming up on the calendar. Some things just didn't seem that important anymore. After I unlocked my car door, he held it open as I got in.

His voice was filled with caring and sincerity as he said, "Goodnight, Veronica."

Smiling up at him as he shut the door, I locked it out of habit. As I watched him walk away, my thoughts swirled around. Would things have been different between us if Celeste hadn't told him I was his sister? After all, that's why he had broken up with me without telling me. Would we have still broken up when my father went after his parents during the murder investigation? There was really no way to know.

A knock on my window startled me. It was Thumper. Rolling down the window part way, I wondered what he was doing here. And come to think of it, where was Felix? He was supposed to be here tonight.

Thumper held up his phone to show me a video of Duncan walking me to my car. He shook his head as he said, "Weevil won't be happy when he sees this. I've been keeping him informed. He's been very interested in what you've been up to when he's not around."

I sat quietly and waited for him to continue or leave me alone. Still no sign of Felix and I couldn't call him with Thumper right next to me.

"I'm betting you don't want him to see this. Wondering what you might be willing to do … for me to keep quiet. After everything I've told him, he'll never believe you. Honestly, I'm not sure why he hasn't cut you loose already." He leered at me, causing my skin to crawl. "But if you want to keep him, you should seriously consider keeping me happy." His tongue came out to touch his upper lip as he gave me a suggestive look.

Saying nothing, I just held his gaze as I put the window up. Then, I started the car. It didn't look like he was going to follow me tonight. I decided to call Felix when I got home.

After about a mile, a single headlight appeared in my rearview mirror. I dialed Felix's number, but it went to voicemail. Weevil's grandma had a long doctor's appointment this afternoon; I didn't want to bother him tonight.

A few blocks from home, I tried Felix again. And got his voicemail again.

When I pulled into the parking lot, I was about to call my dad to come down to my car, but then I saw who was riding the motorcycle that had followed me. It was Felix.

Opening my door, I asked, "How did you know to come?"

"I was watching you in the parking lot. Well, really I was watching Thumper."

"Why?"

"The past couple days … can't go into detail … but I was pretty sure if I gave him the opportunity, he'd try something. I mentioned that I was gonna be a little late to meet you tonight, but I didn't need anyone to cover … I'd just let you know to wait."

"But you got there early."

"Yeah." He immediately called Weevil, saying, "He took the bait."

[

There was a warehouse that shared an alley with my dad's office building. Corny had mentioned that he and a few friends were renting space there, using it as a community art studio. He had babbled about it excitedly, because he couldn't wait to work on larger sculpture projects now that he had more space. When Weevil had mentioned that we'd need somewhere to meet in the future, I asked Corny if I could have a key if I contributed to the rent. He explained to the other artists that they might have visitors at odd hours, but they said it was all cool.

After Felix got off the phone with Weevil, he followed me to my dad's office building. We went in the front, which Thumper would expect if Felix was my watcher tonight. I stopped in the office long enough to turn on lights and the radio. Then, I locked up and we went out the back of the building to cross the alley. Weevil had gone to the far side of the warehouse – entered through a garage door and parked his bike inside. He was waiting when we got there.

Felix had seen the conversation from a distance, but he and Weevil wanted to know what Thumper had said. When I told them I recorded most of it, they obviously wanted to hear it.

"First, what are you not telling me?" I asked.

Weevil dropped his head, considering what to tell me. "We both thought Thumper was just unhappy about the changes in the club … with me stepping back for a bit. He didn't seem to like taking orders from Felix. He definitely didn't like watching out for you. But it's more than that. He's power hungry … and that makes him dangerous."

"What are you gonna do?"

He gave me a look that said, 'I can't believe you're asking me that.' But what he actually said was, "We need to be careful. We need to take care of him … but without any of us getting hurt."

"I assume you have a plan."

Ignoring my curiosity, Weevil said, "V, we need to hear that recording. Now."

Before playing it, I told them as much as I could remember of how the conversation began, including Duncan walking me to my car after we "cleared the air."

They both became increasingly tense as the recording played.

"Where was he during this?" Weevil asked Felix.

"Standing beside her car. Talking through the window."

Turning to me, Weevil asked, "He never touched you?"

I shook my head.

"And he never will. We'll make sure of that." Then, he let out a chuckle. "But if we're not around, you have my permission to taser his ass."

"Thanks. But I'd do it anyway … without your permission."

"That's my girl." With both his hands on my hips, he pulled me toward him and pressed his forehead to mine.

"About that plan …" I whispered.

"Felix and I have one … which may involve us enlisting some help." Seeing my face light up, he shook his head. "Not you. At least, not now." Stroking the side of my face, he said, "We have a plan to protect you if things get ugly."

With a nod, Weevil dismissed Felix.

As he walked away, Felix told me, "I'll wait for you in the alley."

Finally, Weevil and I had a moment alone. Those were few and far between these days. I wasn't sure how much that would change with school starting, but at least, I would see him at school.

We both hesitated to start something we knew would have to end too soon. Our kisses these days were either quick, chaste kisses in front of family and friends … or like this one … full of longing. Things between us had been hot and heavy in the spring, but summer arrived with a host of distractions and obligations. We had settled into this pattern of looking ahead to when circumstances would change. Until then, we made the most of these brief moments alone.

I would have happily spent another couple of hours there in his arms, but my phone buzzed to tell me that I had a text from my dad. He was wondering where I was.

Easier to call than text. And easier to keep it close to the truth. "Hey, Dad. Yeah … sorry, meant to call. I stopped at the office for a bit. Then, I went across the alley to see if Corny was around … Yeah, anyway, I'm leaving in a few minutes. Be home soon."

Returning my attention to Weevil, I gave him one more kiss before we parted ways. Felix was right outside the door. He remained my shadow until I was inside my apartment.

[

[

Somewhere in the middle of everything that happened this summer, the missing person case got solved. Angela Roman had been kidnapped by Gil Harrison and was kept in the upstairs of the club. However, just before Club Mojo was busted, he had been asked to take one girl to a private party. It seemed that Angela was a favorite of his and he was hoping to get some time alone with her.

When he heard what had happened, he couldn't go back to the club. He panicked, drugged Angela, and took her across the border into Mexico. When she tried to escape, he struck her on the head – severely injuring, but not killing her. He dumped her body, assuming she was near death.

Fortunately, someone found Angela and took her to a hospital. After she regained consciousness, she had amnesia. When she was released, she went to stay with the family of one of her nurses. Later, she started to regain her memory in bits and pieces. Her new friends were helping her on that end while we were looking for her on this end.

Long story short, she was reunited with her parents and has begun to get her life back. We turned over everything we had to the authorities. Hopefully, Gil (who had at least one alias) will be brought to justice. Regardless, we were able to bring a family back together. The past couple years had been traumatic for Angela, but she's a survivor. Given time and a strong support system, she should be able to get past it – God willing.

One small bright spot. A moment's happiness in a town that is too often filled with darkness and despair.

[

[

On the last night before school started, Dad and I had dinner with the Fennel family. To give Dad a little time alone with Alicia, the rest of us went for a walk on the beach. Darrell played with Backup while Wallace and I talked about our upcoming senior year. Wallace was clearly excited about the pomp and pageantry of it all – probably something to do with being a star athlete. It made him happy, so I tried to be a supportive friend.

As I watched the sunset and its reflection on the ocean, I thought about how quickly this summer had come to an end. The school year was starting much too soon for my taste. And yet, it would be senior year. Only one year to go. Graduation could not come soon enough for me!

I would be overjoyed to put high school in my rearview mirror.

A/N:

This fic will be on hiatus for a few months while I work on other things. It's taking most of my will power to not work on this right now.

Thanks for reading! Until next time …

~Jen

1 September 2017

Nena, dime. Ahora. = Baby, tell me. Now.

Cariño, vamos afuera. = Darling, let's go outside.

No me canso de estar a tu lado. = I can't get enough of you.