A/N: Loving all the supportive reviews, so thanx for that :-) Now we have to deal with Logan's proposal, so here goes...

(For disclaimer, etc. - see chapter 1)

Chapter 12 - I Made Up My Mind

When Keith Mars arrived home from work, he found his daughter curled up on the couch, apparently watching TV and yet her eyes seemed to stare right through the screen as he looked at her. Apparently, Veronica had barely noticed her father come into the house and didn't acknowledge his presence until he was sat on the coffee table in front of her.

"Hey, sweetie" Keith said, finally getting her attention, "Watching something... interesting?" he asked, as he looked at the TV screen and back at her with an unconvinced expression.

"Um, I honestly don't know" she admitted that her mind had wandered and her full attention hadn't been on the television in some time.

There was so much more to think about than what appeared to be an old lady eating a fish for some reason? Veronica really didn't know what station she'd even picked or why, only that she'd been looking for something, anything to take her mind of the serious issues that filled her head.

As if it were not shocking enough to be pregnant and to have seen the baby that was growing inside her on the sonogram today. As if she were not confused enough, breaking up with her boyfriend for the sake of his own best friend who was coincidentally the father of the child she carried. This was clearly not enough crap for Veronica to deal with, the Powers That Be decided she needed one more thing to stress about, and that had come via Logan.

He meant well, Veronica was certain of it. He only wanted to do right by her and the baby, and that was admirable. Most guys would've left town by now just to escape the scandal, and Veronica was so grateful that not only had Logan stuck by her at school and when they broke the news to her father, but also behind closed doors where he told her he loved her without question. She certainly loved him too, and it was becoming clear that baby or not they would've ended up together sooner or later.

Now it seemed, Logan had ideas of them being as one forever, in the full-blown matrimonial sense. Whilst the idea appealed on some levels when Veronica thought about it, the shock in the first instance had more than taken the wind out of her sails.

It was long after Logan had left that she let the words of his question and all its many possible outcomes and repercussions really sink into her brain. Veronica started making lists in her head. Positives and negatives for if she said yes and if she said no. How Duncan might react, and Lynn, and the students and teachers of Neptune High. Of course, the other reaction she must consider was that of the man that sat before her now, looking so concerned that something was wrong as he flipped off the TV and turned to face her again, reaching out to take her hand in his.

"Veronica, you know I understand what you're feeling" he told her gently, "I know seeing that sonogram makes everything so much more real..."

"Dad..." she tried to interrupt, to tell him that wasn't the most major thing on her mind right now, but he wouldn't hear it.

"No, wait a second, Veronica" he said, silencing her instantly, "Now, I know I can't talk to you about this from a woman's point of view and all, but take it from me as a parent" he said firmly, "I remember being with your Mom in that place, seeing the fuzzy picture of you" he said with a smile, "And as proud as I was to know that was my kid on the screen, I gotta tell you I was kind of afraid of you too"

"You were afraid of me?" Veronica asked, looking just slightly amused by the concept.

"You were so tiny" Keith recalled, "Even when you were born, you were just this little wriggly, helpless thing... and you were going to rely on me for so much, I was petrified" he told her, feeling as emotional as she looked in that moment, "All I'm saying, sweetheart, is that its okay to be scared, and that I will always be here to help, no matter what" he promised her.

"Thanks, Dad" she said with a genuine smile as she leaned over and hugged him tight.

"You're welcome, honey" he replied as he hugged her back, glad to have made her feel even a little better about the situation.

None of this was ideal, but she was being remarkably grown up about everything, and so was Logan too really. They were good kids, they'd just made a big mistake, and they would pay for it. As much as he loved his little girl and always would, Keith wasn't about to pretend bringing up a kid was easy, or that there weren't days and moreso nights when he wondered why he and Lianne had ever thought they could cope with a baby. Still, he wouldn't trade his Veronica for the world, not even back then when he wasn't a hundred percent sure he was her real father.

"I'm sorry" Veronica said as they pulled apart, "I didn't make any dinner..."

"That's okay" Keith assured her, "I actually sent one of the Deputies for take-out when I realised how late we'd be working" he explained, "I thought you'd be asleep by now" he said, flashing his watch at his daughter who's eyes went wide when she realised just how fast the evening had gone by.

"Wow, I guess that really was some deep thinking I was doing" she exclaimed as she got up from the couch and followed her Dad over to the refrigerator where he grabbed a bottle of water and took a sip.

"You mean to tell me the biggest event in your whole afternoon and evening here was the woman with the fish on TV?" he asked her with an amused look that soon disappeared when Veronica explained that wasn't true.

"No, I also did some homework" she told him, "Got myself a sandwich... oh and Logan and I talked a while, then he proposed marriage and went home" she said quickly, just wanting to get it out there and a little apprehensive of the reaction she would receive.

"Okay, I'm gonna need you to repeat that last part for me" Keith said remarkably calmly as he turned from the fridge to look at Veronica where she stood by the counter now.

"Logan asked me to marry him" she said slowly, ever mindful of not making it sound as if she thought he were stupid for not hearing her the first time.

"Uh-huh" Keith nodded once, taking in what he was being told.

Honestly, he couldn't be too mad about it. Logan had proved himself to be a decent young man as he stood by Veronica, effectively putting his last hope of a decent reputation on the line. Sure, he was the little rat that had dared to touch his daughter, but Keith couldn't really hold that against the boy. After all, he learnt long ago that it takes two to tango, and therefore Veronica was as much to blame as her now boyfriend for the baby they had made.

Now, the young Mr Echolls was proving himself again, offering to marry Veronica and presumably give her all the support she needed, both emotional and financial he had no doubt. That could not be argued with in any real sense, and yet Keith wasn't so sure he liked the idea. There was little chance of life being any kind of normal from now on as it was, but a marriage between his little girl and the Echolls boy certainly wouldn't help them to find a way back to the life they were used to. On the contrary, it would mean all the more changes, and Keith wasn't sure whether he liked that or not.

"Dad, please say something" his daughter urged him when he stood and stared in silence too long.

"What did you say?" he blurted out suddenly, "When he asked you, did you say yes?"

"I said 'I don't know'" Veronica shook her head, leaning her weight on the counter because it felt like it was the only thing holding her up right now, so exhausted was she, emotionally, mentally, and physically after the days events, "I told him it was a big decision and I need time to think, and honestly its pretty much all I've done since he asked me" she said honestly as Keith nodded his head.

"Well" he said at length, "Gotta give the guy some credit, he does want to do the right thing"

"But is it the right thing?" Veronica asked him desperately, "I mean, I know we're having this baby but..." she shook her head, "I don't know exactly what's going to happen with us yet. I do love Logan, and I know he loves me. It seems like the sensible thing to do, but... I'm sixteen, Dad, this wasn't the plan" she said, the whole thing hitting her like a ton of bricks all over again as she tears came to her eyes.

"I know, honey" Keith sympathised as he abandoned his drink in favour of walking around the counter and taking his little girl in his arms, "And I wish I could be more help, but in the end, all the decisions you make have to be your own" he told her, "This baby, and Logan, it's all your life, and it has to be your choice"

"But I'm scared, Daddy" she admitted as she cried into his chest, "It's all happening so fast"

"I know, sweetheart" her father said, rubbing her back to comfort her, "but I know you'll do the right thing, and that somehow it will all work out in the end" he promised her as he kissed the top of her head, "It always does"

* * * * *

Logan checked his watch for the fourteenth time and realised the time had moved on less than a fraction of a minute since his last glance. Veronica had called late last night and left a message on his cell saying she would make her own way to school this morning but she would meet him at lunch, underneath the bleachers, where they were sure to get some privacy.

As far as he could tell, it was a good idea. They didn't need anyone over-hearing their conversation, not when it was so very important and life changing. Logan wasn't sure when he'd started shaking but it certainly gave away his nerves, he realised, as he pulled his hand from his pocket to check his watch one further time. She was only five minutes late, but it made him more nervous than he'd ever been in his life, and that included the times when his father had sent him to fetch the belt that would teach him a lesson he'd never forget.

As soon as Veronica showed up, Logan knew she would be giving him an answer, either yes or no, and just one of these simple little words could change their lives forever. He hadn't meant to propose to her yesterday, honestly, it hadn't really crossed his mind to offer to marry her, though perhaps it ought to have done. It was in the room where the sonogram took place, holding on tight to Veronica's hand as they stared across at a fuzzy image of their unborn child. It was then when Logan had really started to see the big picture, and though what he'd said about the whole situation being scary as hell was true enough, he also felt incredibly content to know that the rest of his life would be spent with Veronica and their child. He couldn't ask for more than the girl that had haunted his dreams for years now, and a baby to call their own would be the icing on a particularly sweet cake. Sure, it would've been better if they'd been together a while first, definitely finished high school and maybe even college before the pregnancy thing happened, but life had a way of messing up the best laid plans. Sometimes you just had to go with whatever was thrown at you, and that was what Logan was doing. He wanted to be with Veronica, that had always been clear, and last night more than ever seemed like the perfect time to prove it.

There was no more time to consider the outcome of his moment of clarity as Veronica suddenly appeared before him, looking as nervous as he felt if it were possible.

"Hey" she said, eyes going to the floor a moment and then back up to meet his.

"Hi" he replied as they both shifted awkwardly, even when they leaned in to briefly kiss each others lips, "Er, are you okay?" he checked, not sure if her pale complexion was his fault or something to do with the effects of being pregnant.

"I guess, yeah" she nodded, "I just didn't sleep all that well last night" she admitted, sure he knew why as they shared a look.

"Yeah, me either" he nodded once, hands in his pockets and he looked around nervously, eyes going anywhere but on her, "I, er, showed my Mom the sonogram picture" he said with a random gesture, "She cried" he rolled his eyes, "Honestly I don't know if it's because of the picture or from the realisation that somebody's going to start calling her grandma pretty soon" he smirked, which at least seemed to break the tension for a moment as Veronica let out a little chuckle at his joke.

Unfortunately the mood turned serious again just as fast, and the young couple faced each other, both taking the same deep breath it seemed before Veronica spoke.

"Logan, yesterday was a big day" she said carefully, "And with everything that happened, I... I just want to be sure you meant everything you said before I..."

"Veronica" he interrupted, picking her fidgeting hands up in both of his and glad that the action made her look up at him, "I meant every word of what I said" he assured her as he stared down into her eyes, "I love you, Veronica Mars, and I want to be here for you and our kid, so... will you marry me?" he repeated his question and hoping this time some definite answer would come, because honestly the anticipation was killing him.

"No" she said then, stunning both of them apparently as they looked away from each other and then back, "Logan, I'm sorry but no, I can't marry you"

Backing up two or three steps, Logan's hands dropped Veronica's own, as he ran his fingers back through is hair and turned away from this girl he knew in his heart of hearts was the only one he would ever really love like this. Veronica had been his world so long, she was carrying his baby, and they were supposed to be in love, and yet she didn't want to marry him. He didn't understand, and it showed on his face as he turned around and stared at her.

"Logan" she sighed, "It's not that I don't love you" she assured him, sure that was what he thought as he looked at her, eyes so empty and heart probably breaking, "I do love you" she promised, "And I do want you around, for me and for the baby"

"Then why?" he asked no understanding at all, "Why can't you marry me, Veronica?"

"Come on, Logan" she said, desperate for him to understand as she moved towards him and the two of them leaned on the same upright beneath the bleachers, "A wedding isn't going to fix our problems" she said, sounding so grown up and sensible, hoping her father would be as proud of her for her level-headedness in this as he was in her ability to cope with her pregnancy so well, after all, she was certain she was doing the right thing.

"Is that what this is, Veronica?" Logan asked, looking even more hurt, "Are we just a big problem to you? Something that's making life difficult?"

"Logan, please" she urged him, "You know that's not what I meant" she said, almost a little angry at him for thinking such a thing of her, "All I'm saying is, I have a pregnancy to get through, and then we have a baby to raise" she explained, "Plus you and I have to have time to figure out exactly what this relationship we have entails. It's just been a few weeks, Logan. Less than six months ago I was still dating Duncan and now suddenly we're together and we're going to be parents.. it's so much to take in" she said with a shake of her head.

"I'm just trying to make it better, Veronica" Logan told her, "I wanted you to understand that I want to be here for you, always" he explained, glad to see her smile at that at least.

"I know" she said putting a hand to his face, "And I love knowing I can count on you, but I don't want a shot-gun wedding, Logan" she shook her head, "And whether we love each other or not, that's what it'd be. It'd be all about the baby, and nothing about us" she explained, "You have to see that"

Logan thought about what she was saying and knew she was right with little or no hesitation. God, he hated that, but he loved Veronica Mars more than anything else in the world. He would have married her, a part of him wished she'd have said yes so he could, but another larger part that he would never admit to was also kind of glad she'd said no. He did want to be with her, but marriage was a very big deal, and in all honesty he hadn't really thought through his decision to ask her yesterday.

"So, no on the wedding" he said then, letting out a breath he was hardly aware he'd been holding, "but yes on the making out under the bleachers?" he asked with a smirk.

The look and cheeky joke combined made Veronica giggle as she went into his arms and kissed him.

"Definitely yes on that last part" she said with a grin as their lips met and for a little while at least they just let themselves be just two High School kids in love.

To Be Continued...