A/N – I won't abandon this, I just don't have the time to write that I wish I did! Veronica and Lamb get plenty of time to talk in this chapter!

Picking up at the end of Chapter 8; Pulling away from the Balboa County Courthouse

Driving away from Neptune with her daughter, leaving Lamb and her history behind, Veronica reflected on how her life had completely turned upside down over the past 48 hours. She'd worked so hard to give Anna the life she thought was best for her – and to keep their lives away from Neptune. She'd never thought about what might have been if she'd stuck around after her first year of college and after learning of Anna's impending arrival. She hadn't lived her life worrying about what if's and she wasn't going to start doing that now. She'd figure this out as she went and Lamb would just have to be ok with that.

"Mom," Anna broke the silence a few minutes into the ride, looking up from her current book one of the Harry Potter series, "I think I'm going to finish my book before we get home. Can we get the next one at the store tomorrow?"

Veronica had braced herself for a deep question about the monumental news Anna had received earlier; or a reflection of the events leading up to her arrival in Neptune but smiled and responded, "I think so, we might even have time to go to the store tonight if traffic isn't too bad."

A few minutes later Anna looked up from her book again, "Does Uncle Wallace live in Neptune?" That question came out of the blue, Anna adored Wallace and got to see him a few times a year when he was in town on business. He worked as a basketball scout for Hearst and traveled across the state a few times each year to scope out potential recruits. His wife Shae had come with him a few times, mostly to meet Wallace's imaginary best friend who never visited their hometown.

Over the years, Wallace stopped asking Veronica to visit, knowing she would decline. He'd always assumed it was too tough to be around that much loss – and she'd let him. Unlike most of Neptune, he knew about Anna but he didn't know who her father was. Again, he'd assumed it was someone she met early in her time with the FBI and she'd let him think that. If they were going to continue spending time in Neptune (and it looked like they were), she would have to tell him the truth – and hope that omitting it for the last 9 years wouldn't hurt their friendship.

When Veronica nodded to confirm Wallace's residence, Anna continued to ask for visits to be set up with Wallace and Shae. "Of course, we can visit them," Veronica said hopefully, still trying to figure out how to share Anna's paternity with her best friend, "maybe we can pick out a present for the baby for next time we visit." Wallace and Shae were expecting their first child in a few months and Veronica liked the idea of being around for her friend during this time – she remembered how important having support was; even if Wallace just needs someone to commiserate with over the sleepless nights that come with the early months of being a parent.

Nearly 8 hours later when Veronica pulled into her parking spot in front of her building she checked her phone and had 2 text messages that came through over the past hour, both from Lamb:

Lamb: Booked a flight for Friday afternoon. Arriving in SMF at 6

Lamb: Unless you changed your mind about me visiting

Veronica responded before getting out of the car:

Veronica: Anna will be excited.

Lamb responded almost immediately:

Lamb: Still ok if I stay with you? I can book a hotel

Veronica: Couch is all yours

The week went by quickly, Veronica and Anna were almost back to their normal routine. The Bureau insisted Veronica take a couple of weeks of paid time away to "recover" from the incident and they sponsored sessions with a child psychologist twice a week for Anna. The psychologist concluded that Anna was not too affected by the kidnapping incident – she'd been asleep for most of it and did the right thing in getting help immediately; however, she was very intrigued by the circumstances around Anna's discovery of her paternity. Fortunately, Anna seemed unphased by everything and was just excited about having her dad at her soccer game this weekend.

Friday Afternoon, Carpool outside of Anna's school

"Hey kiddo, how was school?" Veronica greeted Anna as she buckled herself into the backseat of Veronica's car.

"Fine, I got all the words right on my spelling test." Anna answered, and in almost the same breath continued, "What time is my dad coming today? Is he having dinner with us? What are we having for dinner?"

Veronica smiled at her daughter's stream of consciences rambling, "His flight gets in at 6 tonight. I thought we could pick up pizza on our way home from the airport. Does that sound ok?"

"Yeah, he likes pepperoni." Veronica smiled knowingly, remembering afternoons when she was younger bringing her dad and the deputies pizza and hanging out at the station while her mom was busy. Keith's favorite was meat lover's but Lamb (and Veronica) always requested pepperoni.

A few hours later, outside the arrivals area of the Sacramento airport Lamb was greeted by an excited Anna who practically dragged him through the parking structure to the car before he even had a chance to greet Veronica. Per usual, Anna's mile-a-minute chatter entertained both of her parents throughout the duration of the car ride and pizza pickup.

Dinner went off without a hitch and again, Anna entertained with stories of her classmates from the previous week. She casually mentioned meeting with the school psychologist and Veronica made a mental note to loop Lamb in on that.

When bedtime rolled around, Anna insisted that her father be the one to tuck her in. Lamb, not wanting to overstep Veronica's relationship with her daughter looked to Veronica for confirmation. "Teeth, pajamas, and you've got about 10 minutes to read before lights out. We'll be in to say goodnight then."

Lamb helped Veronica clean up dinner, making minimum small talk until the clock read 8:15.

"Whatcha reading?" Lamb asked, following Veronica into Anna's room, lingering in the door – taking in Anna's room. He took in the bulletin board covered with pictures from school and soccer and dance classes. Her bookshelf had an assortment of chapter books, trophies from various activities, and a handful of framed pictures.

"Harry Potter," Anna answered from her bed, without looking up her book, "Chamber of Secrets." That explanation didn't do much for Lamb's understanding and Veronica clarified, "She's on the second book of the series. And she's going to put it away for the night." Then turning to Anna she continued. "Finish your paragraph and you can read the rest of the chapter tomorrow."

Anna complied without argument, probably showing off for Lamb. Veronica set the book on the nightstand and leaned down to kiss Anna on the forehead. The Mars ladies looked at Lamb, waiting for him to follow suit. He quickly kissed Anna's forehead and wished her a goodnight; following Veronica out of the bedroom after she turned off the light.

"So that's bedtime?" Lamb followed Veronica back into the kitchen, not sure what they were going to do without Anna to entertain them before going to bed themselves.

"More or less, she's pretty self-sufficient." Veronica pulled a beer from the fridge and offered it to Lamb who accepted, and returned with another for herself. "There's usually a little more negotiation around lights out time. But if her one act of rebellion is trying to read a few more pages I'm going to let it slide."

"So she's doing well in school?" Lamb didn't know what to ask but he wanted to know everything. He wished he could remember all the questions that popped into his head over the past week. School, friends, allergies, did she have allergies? Or any broken bones, hobbies, favorite movies. How was he ever going to make up for missing out on those early years?

"Yeah, she's a bookworm – I know she didn't get that from you." Lamb smiled at Veronica's slight jab; was this how things used to be? "Wait here," Veronica had an idea and disappeared from the kitchen leaving Lamb perched on a barstool.

Moments later she returned with a box and a book balanced on top of it. "I'm not really a 'baby book' kind of mom. But I tried and kept track of a few things. If you want, you can look through it." Veronica set the box between them. Lamb opened the book first. The first pages were filled out, complete with baby's first picture, her name, date and time of birth, height and weight.

"She's always had your eyes." Veronica mused as she watched Lamb flip through pages containing Anna's favorite baby food (banana) and her first word ("no").

Lamb finished thumbing through the mostly empty back half of the baby book and moved on to the box Veronica had furnished. He started pulling things out and Veronica provided brief explanations.

"That was the onesie she wore home from the hospital."

"We read that book roughly 100 times a day for about a year." Veronica shook her head as Lamb examined Barnyard Dance. "I think I can still recite it."

Neither said anything when Lamb pulled the first ultrasound from the box. Each knew the other was wondering how things would have been different if Lamb had known from the start.

The quiet mood quickly lifted when Lamb reached for a Ziploc baggie toward the bottom of the box and made a gagging noise. "I didn't know what to do with them. It felt wrong to throw them out." Veronica said of the bag of baby teeth Lamb had quickly released from his hand. "Maybe if you're a serial killer." Lamb retorted; resuming sifting through the box.

"That was her first -and last - ballet recital." Veronica said and immediately followed, "It took about 30 minutes for us to realize we're not ballet people but I'd signed up for 6 months of classes so we stuck it out."

"Kindergarten graduation," Veronica looked closer at the class picture and pointed to a boy in the first row "And this one is a biter." They both laughed at Veronica's recall.

"Ah yes, the T-ball summer." Veronica smiled at a picture of 4-year-old Anna holding a bat and wearing a baseball hat that was too big. "I'm not sure if she liked playing ball or if she really just wanted to hit things with the bat."

"She tried basketball last winter." Veronica explained, moving to the next picture, "The good news is she got her height from you, unfortunately she seems to take after me in the hand-eye coordination department."

"Summer swim league is pretty fun, the meets last forever and each kid only swims for a few minutes – usually a couple of hours apart, but most of the parents are cool with BYOB so it tends to turn into a party." Lamb was passing through pictures and ribbons from various swimming events.

"Ah yes, soccer." Lamb reached the group pictures at the bottom of the box. "It's the long-time favorite activity. I've really tried to encourage her to try everything but she keeps picking soccer as her favorite. She's only a couple of years away from the dreaded travel leagues. If we stick with it we'll get to say goodbye to our weekends and hello to overly competitive pre-teens and parents who think each match is the Olympics."

Lamb had never really thought much about youth sports, the sheriff's department sponsored a handful of leagues for low-income residents but he'd never paid it much attention.

"You're not a big soccer fan?" He asked Veronica, wondering why she'd continued to enroll Anna in the activity if she didn't enjoy it.

"I'm a big Anna fan." Veronica replied with a smile, "I like watching her play – and she's pretty good – but soccer moms have their reputation for a reason. As the under-thirty, single working mom of the team I'm not winning any parental popularity contests." Lamb wanted to say something but Veronica continued, "She's played with the same group of kids for a couple of years and they're some of her best friends – but some of the parents are people I could stand to not spend every other weekend sitting on the sidelines with."

Lamb just laughed, "Not much has changed for Veronica Mars, still making friends everywhere you go."

"What have you been up to? We've spent so much time talking about Anna. What's going on with you and the department." Veronica was genuinely curious to know how Lamb had spent the better part of the decade. Clearly he was still sheriff and against her better judgement she'd checked out his ring finger a few times – no sign of a Mrs. Lamb.

"Nothing much changed – until last week. You know Neptune, still has its seedy parts but there have been some decent efforts to revitalize town. And without you I seem to have the ability to fight crime just fine." It was finally Lamb's turn to tease Veronica, "You were at the office last week, no major changes. Inga's getting close to retirement. She's down to part-time, I think because she enjoys the company. Jerry is still Jerry; we've had a handful of retirements and new hires but no high-profile crimes." Lamb was careful not to joke too much about the high-profile crimes he and Veronica were all too familiar with.

"But you've been good?" Veronica asked, not sure what she was hoping to find out about her former nemesis.

"Yeah, like I said, life's pretty boring without Veronica Mars." Shit, did that come out flirtatious? He didn't mean to flirt with her. Sure, he'd missed seeing her around but did he miss her? "I just mean, nothing substantial to report. You saw my house – I bought it a few years back. A handful of bad dates, fortunately no marriages or divorces. And you? What have you been up to in addition to raising Anna."

"Everything pretty much revolves around Anna, well, Anna and work. After I graduated, I was pretty fortunate to get to keep working in the area and I don't do too much field work so I'm able to make it to all of Anna's activities. Like you, a handful of bad dates over the years but no marriages or divorces."

They silently finished their beers, absorbing the knowledge of each other's failed romantic endeavors.

It was Lamb who broke the silence a few minutes later, "Am I going to screw her up?" Before Veronica could assuage his concern, he continued, "You have everything so well managed. She's smart and involved and I can't imagine I have anything to give her. What if I just screw her up."

"You're not going to screw her up." Veronica turned to look at Lamb, hoping she was telling the truth. "Don't you think I have the same thought every time I make a decision about her. Hell, she was kidnapped on my watch." Lamb started to object but Veronica cut him off, "Don, I'm serious, she's been so excited about the opportunity to get to know you. It's my fault that you weren't around until now but I'm sure you're going to be a good dad for her now."

"I have something for you." Lamb said almost immediately and went to his overnight bag to pull out an envelope and handed it to Veronica. "There's more, but that's what I could get my hands on for now."

Veronica opened the envelope and stopped listening, ready to shut Lamb down. "This is twenty thousand dollars." She put the check back in the envelope and started to hand it back to him.

"I know. I can get more. It will just take a few days to move some things around. I already called my broker and he's working on it."

Veronica was starting to get upset and Lamb realized he should have anticipated this reaction. "I don't want your money, Lamb." She threw the envelope at him though it didn't have the effect she'd wanted and they both watched it float to the floor. "I don't need your money, we're just fine without it."

Lamb picked up the envelope and put it on the table between them. "I know you don't need it. And you've done an amazing job with Anna but I want to help. Please let me do something."

"I'm not going to let you pay me for not letting you know about our daughter." Veronica said, again shaking her head and ready to drop the subject.

"Then let me do something for Anna."

"She doesn't need anything. You can't buy her and I don't want you to spoil her."

"I'm not trying to buy her over. I want to do my part." Lamb had a thought, "What about soccer? Or swimming? All of those activities have to add up. And I'm sure she outgrows her uniforms every year."

Veronica was exasperated, realizing Lamb wasn't going to give in. "She plays soccer in a community league with volunteer coaches. Swimming doesn't start up for another couple of months and that's maybe three hundred dollars for the summer – if we need to buy a new swimsuit and goggles." Veronica smiled and had an idea, "But, she's starting gymnastics next month and you're welcome to cover those costs."

Don agreed, excited to be involved even if just in a small way and made a mental note to research gymnastics to see what Anna would need.

"Where did you get this kind of money anyway?" Veronica suddenly realized the magnitude of money he was talking about, while not uncommon in Neptune, isn't common in public service. Unless he was taking bribes or engaged in other nefarious activity. "Unless Neptune's had a major change of heart, I can't imagine the sheriff's salary is much more than it was when dad was in office."

"Family money. I didn't even know about it until a few years ago." Lamb went on to explain the abbreviated version of the family history he gave Cliff, not wanting to draw attention to his upbringing.

"I'm going to tell you something that's not up for debate." Lamb decided to press his luck on this front, "There's money for college. Its hers, I've already gotten the ball rolling to grant her access to it when she turns eighteen. It's up to you if you want to discuss it with her before then, but she will not have to worry about tuition payments or student loans."

Veronica considered his proposal? Deceleration? before agreeing, "ok. I think that's a sensible way to spoil her." Veronica grinned. "We can think about discussing it with her when she's older."

Veronica and Lamb settled into a comfortable silence as they half-watched the local news from their seats on either end of the couch that was to be Lamb's bed. Around eleven Veronica started yawning and couldn't stop, clearly indicating bedtime was imminent.

"So I have a pillow and clean sheets and blankets." Veronica said, moving to the linen closet to furnish Lamb's makeshift bed. "I'll put it together. My bathroom is through the bedroom if you want to get ready for bed." Veronica pointed Lamb toward her ensuite, grateful she was caught up on laundry and had taken the time to tidy up before now.

Lamb emerged minutes later in shorts and a t-shirt as Veronica put the finishing touches on the couch-turned-bed.

"Thanks." Lamb said to Veronica as he pulled back the blankets and got into the bed. "For everything. You've been really accommodating." The sincerity in Lamb's voice was almost too much for Veronica…until she looked up at Lamb stretched out on the couch with his legs hanging off the end.

She couldn't help but laugh, "I guess I'm the only adult who's ever fallen asleep on this sofa. It's quite comfortable when you're five foot one."

"It's fine," Lamb replied, knowing there wasn't an alternative but already plotting a shift to the floor in the near future. "I've napped in the holding cells before. This is much more comfortable."

"I know." Veronica shot him a look, remembering the bed in the holding cell, "But you look ridiculous. Take my bed. I can sleep on the couch for tonight."

"No. I agreed to the couch, Veronica. I'm not kicking you out of your bed."

"You know," Veronica started, thinking about how receptive Lamb had been to the bomb that was dropped on him last week, "It wouldn't be the first time…we could share."

Is she serious? Lamb wasn't sure how to react. Is this a trap? "Are you sure? I'm really ok with the couch."

"I'm sure." With that, Veronica took Lamb's pillow and led him to her bedroom, tossing the extra pillow toward the far side of the bed and stepping into her bathroom to get ready for bed. When she emerged, Lamb was tucked under the covers toward the edge of the mattress.

"Good night, Lamb." Veronica turned off the light and joined him in bed.

"Good night, Mars" Lamb returned as he felt the mattress shift ever so slightly under her weight.

Sleep didn't come easily for either of Anna's parents that night. Lamb was terrified he'd snore or God-forbid touch Veronica in his sleep and feared retaliation.

Veronica, on the other hand couldn't remember the last time she'd spent the night with a man. It had to have been years. She was certain this was the first time a man had ever slept over in her house. She'd dated (and dated) occasionally over the years but never anyone worth introducing to Anna. It was always their place (or a hotel) and never a sleepover.

At 5:30 the next morning, after a possible 4 total hours of sleep Veronica gave up and decided to go for a run to clear her head. Careful not to wake the man snoring softly next to her she slipped out of bed and into her bathroom to change into a sports bra and shorts. When she left the bathroom the sun was beginning to cast a glow onto her bed. Onto the very well-cut man sleeping on her bed. Veronica tried (unsuccessfully) not to notice Lamb's muscular quad that had slipped out from under the comforter. Or the bare six pack that showed where his t-shirt had ridden up. "A run. A run to clear my head." Veronica chided herself and quickly and silently left the room.

Veronica left a note on the kitchen island in case either of the sleeping people in her house woke up while she was out "Out for a run. Back by 7"

While the run didn't exactly clear her head, sprint intervals with her iPod turned to max volume did provide a distraction. But when she began her cooldown, her thoughts drifted back home. Back to the man sleeping in her bed.

As she walked back to her apartment she decided for her sake and Don's (and Anna's) she wanted a schedule. She also decided, at least for now, she wanted to accompany Anna anytime she went to Neptune. It was just too far for her to be alone, even if she was with Don. She also made a mental note to send him important dates for Anna; soccer games (and her big tournament), her school talent show and awards night, swim meets, gymnastics showcase.

The smell that greeted Veronica when she opened the door to her home was a delightful surprise. Coffee. And "Is that bacon?" she called out to nobody in particular.

"Yeah." Don replied from the kitchen, making himself at home and pouring Veronica a cup of coffee. "I woke up a while ago and figured I'd go ahead and start breakfast. Not sure when Anna usually gets up."

"Thanks," Veronica accepted the coffee appreciatively, "She should be up any minute now. She has to get up at seven for school so she doesn't sleep much later than that on the weekend. If she's not up in half an hour I'll wake her."

Lamb nodded, returning his focus to the frying pan in front of him.

"Do you have everything under control out here?" Veronica asked and when Lamb nodded, she retreated to the shower.

Twenty minutes later when Veronica returned to the kitchen Anna was wide awake and engaged in a very serious discussion of egg preparation.

"Not over easy. I don't like when the yellow part touches the toast." Anna was adamant that her breakfast remains separate.

"You know some people," Don replied spraying the pan with nonstick spray, "actually dip their toast in the runny part of the yolk on purpose."

"Ew." Anna was quite content on her non-mixed breakfast foods finally making a choice on today's breakfast, "I'll have scrambled eggs today."

"Please." Veronica interjected as a reminder to Anna who amended her previous statement.

"For you?" Lamb asked Veronica as he prepared Anna's scrambled eggs, "cheese omelet, extra cheese?"

"Yes, please." Veronica was a little more than impressed that Lamb had remembered her standing breakfast order for the last two decades.

Veronica plated toast with the bacon Lamb cooked earlier and poured a glass of juice for Anna before refilling Lamb's and her own coffee. She shuttered at the thought of how well they were falling into domesticity.

A few hours later the trio pulled up to the soccer field. Veronica double checked that Anna was carrying her cleats and water bottle before sending her off to catch up with her team before the warmups started. Lamb took in the scene of families dragging coolers and chairs to the sidelines and watched Anna join a group of girls near one of the goals before turning to help Veronica with their own chairs and cooler that needed to be moved from the trunk.

Veronica gave Lamb the lay of the land as they navigated to their spot on the sidelines. She pointed out the parents of Anna's friends, the coach and his wife, and the overzealous dad who volunteered as an unofficial assistant coach.

"You do this every Saturday?" Lamb asked, taking it all in.

"Most Saturdays, some Sundays." Veronica replied, situating the cooler between their chairs on the sideline. Before waving Anna over.

"Cleats, shin guards, sunscreen." Veronica reminded Anna who was in the process of velcroing her shin guards around her legs. Don watched as Veronica helped Anna stretch her socks up to her knees, retie each of Anna's shoes and slather her with sunscreen before wiping the excess on her own arms – they really had this down to a science.

As Anna ran off to join her team across the field, Veronica extended the sunscreen to Lamb who gratefully accepted.

Lamb took time to enjoy this time observing Anna with her friends, he didn't pay much attention to the game itself, but he loved watching Anna play.

After the game, Lamb accompanied Anna and Veronica on to their traditional post-game lunch and grocery shopping before returning to Veronica's apartment.

"Ok kiddo," Veronica said to Anna after she'd changed out of her soccer uniform, "You know the drill. Chores before tv."

"But," Anna started to object and Veronica cut her off, knowing exactly where she was going.

"He can help," Veronica turned to Lamb, "but he's not cleaning your room for you."

Lamb smirked and followed Anna into her room and followed her directions regarding where to put the scattered books and toys that needed to be cleaned up.

"She made you clean her whole room, didn't she?" Veronica asked Lamb knowingly later that evening while Anna was watching TV.

Lamb shrugged, "Mars women seem to have a way with me." Shit. Was he accidentally flirting with her again?

"I'll keep that in mind next time I get arrested in Neptune." Veronica joked off his comment.

The rest of the night continued in the oddly comfortable routine Don and Veronica had fallen into. There was an unspoken understanding that they'd maintain the same sleeping arrangements as the night before. The next morning was more of the same, with Don making breakfast – waffles, per Anna's request and Anna took her father on a walk around the neighborhood before she and Veronica dropped him off at the airport.

"I'll see you Friday!" Lamb said as he hugged Anna good bye, "Be good for your mom. I'll call you to hear about your soccer practice on Wednesday."

"Can we go to Amy's?" Anna asked by way of acknowledgement, just wanting ice cream next weekend.

"I'm sure we can find time for that." Lamb replied and kissed the top of his daughter's head.

"If anything changes, let me know." Lamb turned to Veronica to confirm plans for the weekend.

Veronica nodded, "We'll see you Friday."

A/N2: This is Lamb/Veronica endgame, I promise!