Disclaimer: I do not own Veronica Mars. Everything belongs to Rob Thomas.
Author's note: Okay, first off, I suck. I've been trying and failing, obviously to write this chapter for two months. I am SO sorry, from the bottom of my heart, that it took this long. I was inspired by an idea for a story that's been floating in my head for a while. I really want to write it but I decided that I could not start another story without giving all my readers another chapter. This is an extra long one too! I promise, I have an idea where the story is going to go now so I WILL, update. If I don't do it in a timely fashion, I promise an A/N with a timeline. As always, be kind, read and review!
Previously in Home Sweet Home:
"No, Duncan, you have to. You can finally come home."
"Well, I mean, okay. Yeah, okay. We'll be on the next flight out. God, I can't wait to see you Veronica. Maybe we can start fresh. I have to go. I'll see you soon."
--
"You know, my offer for you move in still stands." Veronica paused. She liked the idea of living with Logan.
I would have more freedom. Plus, I know Dad wants to move in with Alicia, so maybe.. no. No. Bad idea Veronica.
"I can't move in with you Logan. I don't think my Dad would be up for me moving in with my recently un-ex boyfriend in his huge house."
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CHAPTER 12:
It had been exactly twenty-one hours from the time Veronica hung up the phone to the moment she was standing in the airport, checking the status of the flight from Sydney, Australia to Neptune. She scanned the board, Duncan's flight had been delayed.
Great. Veronica thought. She walked over to the nearest bench and plopped down.
"Rough day?" a voice next to her asked sympathetically.
"Kind of," Veronica looked over. An older woman, surrounded by several suitcases looked calm. "Is your flight delayed?"
"By four hours. How bout you, doll? Either you're here waiting for someone or a very light traveler,"
"Waiting. My friend," Veronica paused. "His flight is delayed by an hour,"
"You paused. This guy your waiting for, more than a friend?" She asked.
"It's a long story,"
"Honey, I got four hours, tell away."
--
Eighteen hours earlier:
Veronica sat in silence, staring at the dropped phone receiver for several minutes. It wasn't until a loud tone rang out of the speaker that she snapped out of her daze. She placed the phone back on it's base slowly. Her mind was everywhere but in the Mars Investigation's office when there was a knock at her door.
"Veronica?" Wallace said, entering the office with a large bag of food. She stared at the door as he walked in. "VER-ON-I-CA?"
"Oh, yeah. Hi Wallace. What's that?" Veronica reached into the bag and pulled out two tacos. "Mmm, food. Thanks."
"What the hell was that? You were in some crazy daze." Wallace placed a straw in the top of his large drink.
Veronica took a large bite out of her taco. With her mouth full of food she began to answer, "Oh yeah, I just got off the phone with Duncan. He's coming home."
A large stream of cola flew out of Wallace's mouth. "What?"
"The DA dropped the charges.." Veronica took another large bite.
"And?!"
Veronica swallowed roughly. "He wants to start "fresh" with me,"
"What does that mean?"
"I HAVE NO IDEA," Veronica got up and began to pace back and forth behind her desk. "I don't think he knows that I'm back together with Logan and well, the Duncan Kane ship sailed a long time ago."
"It did. You sure?"
"OF COURSE!" Veronica exclaimed. "God, what is he thinking. Oh and what am I going to tell Logan. 'Hey Logan, we're finally back in a good place after barely speaking for four months and now your childhood best friend aka my ex-boyfriend who you think I dumped you for senior year is coming back to town with his daughter.' That conversation is going to go well,"
Wallace got up, putting his hands on both of her shoulders. "First off, calm down. Second, you need to tell him. Third, well, I don't know but that felt like it needed a third."
"Okay, I'm breathing." Veronica inhaled deeply. "Breathing. Alright. Okay, thanks for dinner Wallace. I'm going to head over to Logan's."
--
"So you're waiting for this Duncan Kane and his daughter?" the woman asked.
"Lilly. His daughter's name is Lilly." Veronica said softly. "He got a girl, Meg Manning pregnant right before we started going out again my senior year in high school,"
"So he's not with Meg anymore?"
"No, Meg died two years ago. Right after she had Lilly, well, Faith." Veronica paused, looking over at the woman who was obviously confused. "Long story short, Duncan, kidnapped his daughter from Meg's parents, who are now in jail for attempted murder and child endangerment, and has been hiding out in Sydney until now."
"Wow, kid. When you said 'Kind of', I assumed you forgot your wallet or something," The older woman sighed as Veronica chuckled. "So did you listen to your friend, Wallace? Did you tell Logan?"
"Yeah and let's say, it didn't go as I had planned,"
--
Sixteen hours earlier
Veronica drove around Logan's block for an hour before finally pulling into his driveway. Just as she had put the car into park, her phone beeped.
"V, I just got on a flight. Be home by 12:00PM your time. Meet us at the airport? -D" Veronica exhaled sharply and threw her phone into the passenger seat. After hitting her head on the steering wheel several times, she got out of the car and went inside to talk to Logan.
"HONEY, I'M HOME!" Veronica said, busting through the door. She dropped her bag by the door before scanning Logan's empty living room. "Logan?"
"Upstairs!" He called loudly. Veronica walked up the stairs quickly.
"Whatcha doing?" she asked, putting on her best fake peppy attitude and bouncing through the upstairs hallway. "Where are you?"
"In here," Logan popped his head out of the unoccupied bedroom next to his own. "Come, look."
"What did you do?" Her eyes widened. Logan had decorated the formally empty room into an almost exact replica of Veronica's bedroom at home.
"Veronica, I was serious about you moving in," he said, pulling her in from the doorway and guiding her through the room. "I tried my best to make it exactly like your room but there's a few small details missing, mainly you."
"Logan, it's amazing but.." Veronica sat down on the large bed in the center of the room.
"But what?"
"Duncan's coming home," She blurted out. Logan's happy expression quickly became dumbfounded. "I mean, he has nothing to do with me moving in here but I just couldn't think of any other way to tell you," Logan's face stayed still. "Logan, Logan! Say something."
"Uh, yeah. DK's coming home. Awesome. That's, yeah, awesome. I'll take all this stuff back,"
"Why?"
"Because you obviously won't be moving in here,"
"I never said I wasn't going to. Wait, obviously?"
"Yeah, you'll want to get back together with him when he gets back and I didn't think he'd want you living with your ex-boyfriend," Logan said, walking out of the room and down the stairs. Veronica quickly chased after.
"Logan! Wait!" She continued to follow him through the house and finally, outside. "Logan, listen to me."
"Veronica, you don't have to say anything," Logan sat down on a lounge chair on the deck. I understand,"
"Understand what? What is there to understand?" She asked frustrated.
"I ask you to move and you tell me Duncan's coming home. I thought things were going great but I guess I was wrong,"
"God Logan, when did you get so insecure?"
"With Duncan? Since senior year, when you left me for him,"
"Things were so different then, Logan, and you know it!" Veronica pulled his body to face hers. "Logan, look at me!"
"If he doesn't mean anything, then why tell me now, the same day I ask you to move in?"
"Because I found out, oh about two hours ago! I came over as soon as I found out but then I drove around your stupid block for two hours because I was scared to tell you,"
"See! You were scared." Logan stood up in fury. "You still have feelings for him, Veronica!"
"NO I DON'T! God Logan, I love you. How many times do I have to tell you that before you actually believe me?"
"I don't know," he whispered. Veronica pulled him back down to the chair and leaned in closely.
"I love you Logan. I do, I love you and only you." Veronica grabbed his chin. "Now listen to me. First off, I will never get back together with Duncan Kane. I mean, it was stupid for me to tell you right after you asked me to move in but I knew if I didn't, you would think I was sneaking around behind you, which I wasn't and won't, ever."
"I'm sorry," Logan said quietly. "I know you better than that Veronica, I just, I can't imagine losing you, again."
"You won't, promise." Veronica kissed him firmly on the lips. "Okay?"
"Yeah. Same for you."
"Good," Veronica leaned back into her chair. "So about this moving in thing?
"Oh, yeah. Uh, sorry?"
"Yeah, sorry." Veronica said. "Well, the room is real pretty."
"So you'll move in?" Logan perked up.
"I need to think it over," Veronica said.
"Think it over?"
"As in, tell my father, the sheriff, that I will be shacking up with my boyfriend,"
"And Dick," Logan offered. "Dick is hardly a selling point but.."
"Dick?"
"Yeah, Dick's officially moving in. The Grande finally kicked him out. Plus, all of his stuff is here and he has a key,"
"And he'll be taking the downstairs bedroom?"
"Yes, he will,"
"Okay, I'll go talk to the sheriff later,"
"Later?"
"A good fight calls for a good making up," Logan smiled widely. "No home runs today, batter. You'll be lucky to make it to first base, maybe second. You do hit like a girl."
"Like a girl?" Logan pulled Veronica up from the chair and lifted her into his arms. "I'll show you who hits like a girl. Home plate here I come!"
--
"Make-up sex was always the best," the older woman commented. "I mean." Veronica laughed.
"No make-up sex. I couldn't do that then be able to give a convincing argument to my father about moving in, I'd feel too guilty,"
"So you're father's the sheriff, eh? He strict?"
"Well, kind of. He's, well, our relationship is hard to explain," Veronica paused. "We're very close. My mother left us when I was a sophomore in high school. After my best friend Lilly was murdered, my dad, the sheriff, went after her father, Jake Kane, as the main suspect. He was ultimately fired and they arrested another man, we, my dad and me, ultimately proved to be innocent,"
"Wait, Jake Kane? Lilly Kane?" The woman looked quite confused again. "I thought you said Lilly was Duncan's daughter?"
"Actually, Lilly was Duncan's sister, his daughter is named after her,"
"So, who really killed Lilly?"
"Aaron Echolls, Logan's dad," Veronica explained. "See, Aaron was hooking up with Lilly and secretly taping it. Oh yeah, and at this time, Logan was dating Lilly. Well, Lilly found the tapes, threatened to sell them and he hit her over the head with an ashtray. Eek, sorry."
"No, you're okay dear. I don't have a weak stomach," the older woman put her hand over Veronica's. "A lot has happened to you in the short little life of yours. How do you deal with it all?"
"Well, my dad, mostly. He's been there through everything."
--
Fourteen hours earlier:
Veronica unlocked the door to her apartment slowly. It was a little after ten o'clock and there was a good chance her father would still be at the office or asleep on the couch.
"I'm awake, I'm awake," Keith's head sprung up as Veronica closed the door.
"Yeah, sure Dad." Veronica put her stuff down on the kitchen counter and delved into the refrigerator. "Go back to sleep."
"No, no. I'm up," Keith walked over to the kitchen, rubbing his eyes. "How was your day kiddo?"
"You know, besides the fact that Duncan's coming home in fourteen hours," Veronica pulled out a carton of ice cream from the freezer and grabbed a spoon. "Oh, And I got in a huge fight with Logan, it's going just spiffy,"
"Spiffy you say." Keith grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge and headed back to the couch. Veronica plopped down on the chair next to him. "Well, maybe I can change that."
"How-wah?" She said, with a spoonful of ice cream in her mouth.
"How-wah?" Keith imitated. Veronica quickly swatted him on the leg.
"Now, tell me this genius plan of how to make my day better. It's a PONY, isn't it?!"
"Not even close."
"Okay, just tell me already," Veronica said, shoving another spoonful of ice cream into her mouth.
"Alicia and I are getting married," Keith exclaimed. Veronica spit her ice cream out, back onto her spoon.
"Married?!"
"Yeah, you sound angry," Keith said worried.
"No, no, not at all!" Veronica leapt into her father's arms. "Congratulations! I'm so happy for you. Does Wallace know?"
"Alicia was planning on telling him tonight. I'm so glad your excited,"
"I am. I am! So when you two getting hitched?"
"Around Christmas. Alicia wanted a winter wedding so winter wedding it is,"
"That's soon," Veronica stated.
"Yeah, I know. So we Mars' need to make the most out of our time alone. Soon there will me another Mars to add to the clan,"
"So are Alicia and Darrell moving in here?" Veronica asked, slyly.
"No, actually, we're going to buy a house, Alicia and I. You can move in with us or.."
"Or.."
"Move in with Logan like you've been wanting to ask me since you got home,"
"How did you know?!"
"Logan called. He told me about the arrangements and I agreed,"
"Really?" Veronica exclaimed.
"Of course, Veronica. I mean, I don't exactly like the idea of you living with your boyfriend but you are growing up and living on your own was bound to happen sooner or later,"
"Thanks Dad," Veronica hugged her father again. "I promise, I won't move out until after the wedding. I want to spent as much time with my Pops before I have to share him with another woman,"
"You'll always be number one in my book, kid." Keith said.
--
"So you're moving in with the boyfriend after all? And you were so worried." the woman patted Veronica on the shoulder.
"Well, if it wasn't for the great timing of his and Alicia's engagement, I'd be held hostage in my room until I was 50,"
"You like Alicia?"
"I love her. Wallace, you know, my best friend, the one with the tacos," the woman nodded. "That's her son. I can't think of two people better suited for each other than my Dad and Alicia, plus, it'll be nice to have Wallace as a sibling,"
"So in the end, after all the hurt and pain, you're happy?"
Veronica laughed. "I guess I am,"
"Sydney, right?" the woman blurted.
"Yeah, Sydney. Flight 353," Veronica said, anxiously.
"Status just changed, looks like it just landed. You ready?"
--
Three hours earlier:
Veronica stood in her room, blankly staring at herself in the mirror as she put a comb through her hair. In the corner of her mirror, a small piece of paper caught her eye. She pulled it from the mirror's frame, her hand rubbing against it.
"True love stories never have endings," she read out loud. It was a fortune, the one Duncan gave her on her 18th birthday. Veronica read it again then walked over to the picture of Lilly, Duncan, Logan and her at their last Homecoming together, and stuck it in.
"You ready to go?"
"Of course," Veronica said, turning around and placing her hand in Logan's.
"I'll drop you off at the airport so you can check on the flight, then I'll swing around and pick up Dick, Mac and Wallace, and meet you back in Terminal 3,"
"Sounds perfect,"
--
"Is that him, over there, walking towards us?" the woman asked.
"Yeah, that's Logan." Veronica waved him and the others over. "I feel so lame for asking you this but, I never caught your name,"
"Name's LouAnn, doll. And don't worry about it," LouAnn nudged Veronica. "Boy, he's a handsome one."
"I know. I got lucky,"
"Luck ain't got nothing to do with it," she paused for a moment. "Well, my flight is leaving in ten minutes, better get hustling."
"Where are you heading?" Veronica quickly asked as LouAnn was grabbing her suitcase.
"In search of what you have, pure happiness, doll. Best of luck to ya,"
"Thanks for talking with me, LouAnn. I hope you find it."
"Oh, I will," LouAnn said, walking away. Logan, Dick, Wallace and Mac sat down next to Veronica.
"Who was that?" Mac asked.
"LouAnn," Veronica said plainly.
"Lou who?" Dick questioned, sarcastically.
"LouAnn. We've been talking for the past hour. Made me realize that what I got, everything, is pretty great,"
"Exactly, V. Come on, we're going to be related," Wallace said.
"And you're moving in with me," Logan said, kissing her on the cheek.
"Don't forget about me," Dick exclaimed. Everyone started to laugh until Mac began to point furiously at the gate to their left.
"And Duncan's finally home," she said.
"Hey Daddy? Is dat Veownica and Wogan?" a little blonde girl asked loudly, pointing to Veronica and Logan made their way to the gate.
"Yeah, Lilly. Those are Daddy's best friends," Duncan said, sweeping her up into his arms and dropping his bags to meet his friends.
"Duncan! You're home," Veronica said, wrapping her arms tightly around him.
"I am, I missed you," he said, embracing her grip. After a minute, Veronica let go, placing her hand on the small of Logan's back.
"DK," he said, shaking Duncan's hand, and hugging him. "We missed you man."
"I've missed you guys too." Duncan said. The little blonde girl in his arms poked him furiously on the cheek. "Oh, excuse me. Logan, Veronica, this is Miss Lilly Kane, the second," The little girl smiled nervously before digging her head into Duncan's shoulder.
"God, she looks just like Lil," Veronica stated.
"I was just going to say that," Logan responded.
"I know and everyday, she's more and more like her. It's just like having Lilly back," Duncan said. He reached down to grab his bag which Logan quickly snatched away. He put his arms around Veronica. "It's like the Fab four is finally back together."
A/N2: I love the DuVe friendship so I'm going to TRY to incorporate that but BUT.. I think Duncan may not get the picture that Logan and Veronica are back together. Also, an Alicia/Keith wedding and Veronica moves in with Logan up next!!