Disclaimer: I do not own Veronica Mars. I have Rob Thomas to thank for my obsession and the CW to hate for cancelling it.
Author's Note: I haven't updated in way too long and I feel horrible about it. I was planning on updating last week but I got really sick and didn't do much of anything for five straight days, except sleep. So I decided tonight to finish what is a much needed update. There is a lot of development stuff in this chapter but it is necessary. I'm going to work really hard on getting another update out before Monday (as a little present for all my readers that have been so patient with me!) Please read/review.
After a week of meetings with potential clients at Mars Investigations and hanging out with friends (especially her 'friend', Logan), Veronica started her first day back at Hearst College.
"Sophomores baby! Woo!" Veronica said, offering a high five to Wallace as they walked into the quad of the campus.
"I've been asked by several people to be the one to tell you that you doing that is not cool, at all." Wallace advised as they walked through the quad.
"And who are these people so I can kick some butt," Veronica said, making kung fu motions.
"Stop?" Wallace said, laughing at his best friend.
"K fine but only because you asked so darn nicely. So you ready for the first class of the year?" Veronica asked.
"Hell yeah. Mechanical Engineering 212, Wallace Fennel is about to own your ass," He said, imitating Veronica's kung fu motions.
"Yeah you will!" Veronica patted Wallace on the shoulder.
"Mmhm, So, how are things going with you and Logan?"
"Four minutes." Veronica said.
"Four minutes what? Like the new Madonna song?"
"No. Four minutes of conversation that did not involve Logan. Come on Wallace, you know if I was going to make a Madonna reference it'd be something involving Like A Virgin or Vogue."
Wallace laughed. "Sorry V, I was just wondering."
"Don't worry Wallace, Mac only lasted two minutes yesterday. But I'll tell you the same thing I've been telling everyone. We've hung out almost everyday for the past week but we haven't really talked about what we are or anything."
"You're still okay with that, right?" Wallace asked.
"Yeah. Things are good and it'll be fine until things aren't good, which I don't think is going to happen. It's different this time."
"Good. It better be or else."
"Or else you'll get him with your mean engineering skills? Fly him into the ground with your model airplane?" Veronica joked.
"Jokes the girl who has no major."
"Well.." Veronica stumbled.
"Veronica is speechless?"
"No. I was just.. Okay fine, you got me," Wallace laughed. "But I'll decide on a major and then I'll shove it in your face!"
"Well until then, I'll be honing my fine, and I mean fine.." Wallace said, brushing his shoulder "..mechanical engineering skills. Lunch at 1:30?"
"See you then!" Veronica called to Wallace as he headed toward the Science building and she continued her way through the quad. Suddenly, Veronica felt a hand on her shoulder.
"Hello beautiful," Logan said, pulling her in..
"Hello kind-of-cute, in the right lighting that is," Veronica laughed pulling herself back from his hold.
"I'm glad you find yourself amusing."
"Hey, someone's got to do it. And where are you heading? I thought you said you didn't have class until 12," Veronica said, looking down at her watch. "And it's still 8:30. I didn't think you knew what 8:30 looked like."
"That is very true. I don't have class until 12 but I have a meeting with an advisor."
"Up early and a meeting? It's like I don't even know who you are anymore." Logan laughed "What's the meeting for?"
"I decided on a major and to formally be admitted into it, you have to meet with an advisor in the department,"
"Is this pick a major day? Wallace just threw it in my face that he has a major and I clearly have no future." Veronica plopped onto a bench.
"You'll be fine. I mean, you liked those criminology classes you took last year," He said, sitting down next to her. "Have you thought about that as a major?"
"Yeah I liked those classes but I don't know. I didn't think I'd have to pick a major so soon. What did you decide on?"
"I decided on Sociology. I actually enjoyed that prison-guard experiment first semester last year so I took a few more classes second semester and I realized, with my background, I could be happy being a counselor for kids who were abused."
"Logan, that's so great. I can really see you doing that. I'm so glad you found something you want to do. As for me, I am going to be future-less FOREVER." Veronica drooped.
"You'll be fine." Logan patted her on the head. "I got to go, I'm going to be late."
"Stop that, I really don't know you at all any more." Veronica said as he walked away.
I must pick a major soon.
After an hour and a half of listening to a foreign professor spew on about the ethics and history of photography, Veronica headed to Mac's dorm room. Assuming that 10:45 was a great time to catch her, just because Dick spent most of the daylight hours asleep, Veronica knocked on the door.
"Hey Veronica," Parker said, answering the door.
"Hey Parker. Mac here? I got some time to kill between classes so I thought I'd catch up with her."
"Nope, Mac has class, I think. Who knows? That girl is never around anymore. But you're more than welcome to hang out." Parker said, ushering her in. "I don't have class until 1 o'clock."
"Thanks Parker," Veronica said, closing the door behind her. "What have you been up to?"
"You know, a little of this, a little of that. Keeping myself busy." Parker giggled.
"Busy huh?" Veronica questioned.
"Yeah. We were going to wait to talk to you about this.."
"We?" Veronica wondered. The last time Parker had used we in a sentence it had been to invite her to the birthday party Logan was throwing.
"Me and Piz. We're kind of uh, dating. Well, we went on two dates and we wanted to tell you but.."
"Parker, calm down. I'm completely fine with you dating Piz. Not like you need my blessing or anything. Plus, you were interested in him way before I was."
"I was! Good, now I have clout over Piz when I tell him that I let it slip."
"There you go!" Veronica smiled.
"So how are you and Logan? Mac told me she saw you two last week. Are you dating again?"
"I think that's the question of the day." Parker mouthed a sorry. "No, no it's okay. We've been hanging out a lot lately but haven't really talked about what we are yet. Actually, I'm really surprised you're asking, seeing as you and Logan have a history."
"Well, truthfully, I wasn't going to. I thought it would be too awkward but you two came up in conversation yesterday."
"Really? Conversation between who?" Veronica wondered.
"Piz, Mac, Dick and I. We were all hanging out." Veronica gave Parker a puzzled look. "I know, odd bunch but the topic of you and Logan just came up. I never actually heard the history between the two of you and neither did Piz. I think we both finally realized you two were meant to be together and since we were together and happy, there's no reason for anything to be awkward between the four of us."
"I'm actually really glad you told me that. I was worried about losing you and Piz as friends." Veronica admitted.
"No worries there!" Parker said jumping up from her bed and hugging Veronica. "Now that I got that off my chest, I'm in the mood for a smoothie. Want one?"
"Sure." Veronica laughed at her friend. "Strawberry is good. I can't drink anything was a nauseating name like 'peachy peach' or 'mango tango'."
"Hey! 'Peachy peach' is my favorite!" Parker said, grabbing her wallet. "Do you want to hang out here or come with?"
"Mind if I stay here? I haven't checked my email since yesterday afternoon and I was expecting something."
"Of course not! Be right back!" Parker said rushing out of the room. Veronica pulled out her laptop and turned it on. After logging onto her email, she quickly deleted the several emails from other interns suggesting they keep in touch and many automatic thank you messages from top FBI execs. Veronica didn't stop her deleting spree until reaching an email from James Robert Forester.
"V, Hope all is well. Haven't heard from you in a while but I have heard about your project. I won't disclose my sources but I wish you success. Everything is good here. Say hello to all for me. Let them know the building is growing quickly. Best, JRF."
She deleted the email immediately then went through the necessary steps that Mac had given her to protect him from being discovered. About six months after his disappearance, Veronica had gotten her first e-mail from James Robert Forester. It took her a few minutes to realize that this mystery e-mailer was actually Duncan and from that e-mail on, Veronica received an update on Duncan and his 'building,' also known as his daughter Lilly who was now two years old, every few 2-3 months since. She kept their contact secret until Mac stumbled upon the emails when backing up Veronica's files and Mac convinced her to let her Dad know. Keith wasn't surprised when hearing about the contact but told Veronica to limit her responses, which would make it harder for him to be tracked down in case there was any new leads. She hadn't responded in about six months and figuring that there was a chance that Duncan may come home if everything went as planned with the Manning case, Veronica opened a new message.
"JRF, Good to hear from you. I'm not surprised you heard about the project. I'm going to be starting work on it this week. If everything goes as planned, who knows what may happen. Everyone is doing swell. LoVe may be back in the air but nothings for certain, yet. Give my love to her. -VM"
As soon as she pushed sent, Parker sprinted back into the room.
"Here you go!" She said, handing Veronica her smoothie. "You look, down. Something wrong? Didn't get your email?"
"I'm fine." Veronica said, sticking her straw into the smoothie. "I got an email from an old friend and it reminded me of high school. I guess I'm just being nostalgic."
"Nothings wrong with that. But don't live your life like that, especially since you've got a great one here, now!" Parker said as she twirled her hair.
Sometimes that girl can be so insightful. Veronica thought.
"Want me to paint your nails?" Parker said, shaking Veronica from her daze.
Veronica smiled. "Sure, why not."
Veronica hung out with Parker until she had to go to class, ate lunch with Wallace then headed over to the office.
"Hey V," Weevil said as Veronica walked into the office. "How was your first day back?"
"Not the same without you there," Veronica said, flopping down on the chair in front of his desk.
"You can get all the Weevil you want 24/7 now that I work for you," he said. Veronica rolled her eyes.
"If I really wanted you, I could of had you that day at lunch." Veronica joked.
"Ouch, Veronica. That really hurt. Who said I wanted you?"
"My extreme cuteness? Blonde locks? My cute little head tilt? All of the above?" Veronica asked. Before Weevil could answer, a voice near the door cleared their throat.
"Am I interrupting something?" the voice said, coming from the door.
"Not at all," Veronica said, standing up. "Sorry for the delay with the case Ms. Manning. My assistant and I have spent the last week gathering information."
"Great. And it's Lizzie, Veronica."
"Lizzie, of course." Veronica said, ushering her into her office. Veronica took a seat behind her desk. "I'm new at this whole, running my own business and it's especially difficult when my top client is my ex-boyfriend's dead girlfriend's sister and her custody battle."
"Yeah, I thought it might be a little awkward for you but Meg always spoke so highly of you and you did solve pretty much everything that ever came through Neptune High so, you're the girl to help me get Grace away from my parents."
"Did you or your parents have an contact with Don Lamb after the night he caught Duncan and me breaking into your house? Wow, I sound really professional."
"No, I don't think so. My Dad never did like him though. Something about him being too nosy,"
"Well I think his nosiness is going to help your case. Ever since that night, he kept tabs on your family and ideas on how to get Grace and you away from your parents after Meg died." Veronica pulled out the file from her desk drawer. "He actually found some pretty good information. It's going to help a lot, especially in court."
"That's great." Lizzie said. "I just want to get her away from them. They've brain washed her. She thinks that if she doesn't listen to them, God won't forgive her. I'm lucky that they haven't taught her I'm the devil yet. She sends me emails from computer class once a week."
"Can I get a copy of those emails?" Lizzie nodded. "I'm going to be sending Weevil," Weevil cleared this throat from the other room. "I mean Eli, out to do surveillance on your parents house as well as at Grace's school. We'll give it another week and if nothing comes up, we'll change our game plan."
"Thank you so much Veronica," Lizzie said getting up. "You too Eli. It means a lot to me and it would to Meg too."
"I'll give you a call if anything comes up. And don't hesitate to call me if you can think of anything else that may help us." She said as Lizzie walked out of the office. Veronica sat back down in the seat across from Weevil.
"What kind of parents would do that to their kid?" He said. "I'm going to do all I can to help get her out of there."
"Me too." Veronica said. For Meg.. and Duncan.
A/N2: I really want to know what everyone thinks about the case, about Duncan coming back and about the L/V relationship. I really love writing L/V moments and Veronica/Wallace, Mac, Parker, Dick, Piz moments so I'm thinking some sort of gathering next chapter? Please review with any comments, even contructive criticism! Thanks.