Summary: Veronica must decide whether to stand by her husband, the sheriff, or her first love, and brother, Duncan Kane, as history repeats itself. Slightly AU future fic.

Spoilers: Anything in season 1 is fair.

Rating: PG-13/R for incest, mainly in later chapters.

Pairings: Veronica/Duncan, Veronica/Leo

Disclaimer: I don't own VM, and am in no way affiliated with those who do.

Chapter 7- Veronica

I went to Duncan's, to help him put together Lilly's memorial video. I didn't know whether I believed that Lizzie had killed Lilly. I didn't really, I guess, but I was scared. She had motive, opportunity, and was physically capable of drowning a ten-year-old girl. And, if she had killed Lilly, she wouldn't get anything unless she killed Duncan, too.

Duncan was not at all surprised that I came. He knew that if it was Lizzie, he had to be on the lookout, and I would be worried. When Logan died, he thought I thought he killed Lilly. Duncan knew I didn't want there to be a chance that he would die before I said everything to him I needed to say. And that I wouldn't let him die.

We sat in his huge living room, silently sorting through the cassettes, and disks. "She didn't do it, Veronica," he said, breaking the silence.

"How do you know?"

"I just...do. Lizzie loved Meg. She would never kill her daughter."

"All siblings love each other."

"What about us?"

"We...I don't know what we are. We're more than sister and brother."

"In some ways," he agreed, "but we're less than brother and sister in others."

"Maybe. But that doesn't mean Lizzie didn't kill Lilly, and it doesn't mean I don't love you," I said desperately. "Look, I know you aren't over it yet," unable to bring myself to say 'us,' "and I don't want you to take this the wrong way, but I love you, Duncan."

"I know. You don't need to say it."

"Yes, I do. I never tell people that I care for them, not even Elly. After my mom abandoned me, I just couldn't. I told her I loved her, and she left anyways, and I wouldn't be telling you this if I didn't think this was the only time you'd ever hear it."

"And I can't leave you. I left you, just before your mother did, and you could tell me you loved me back then."

"I know why you left me."

"You know why Lianne left, too."

"I guess, but she could have stayed. I would have stayed, for Elly. You couldn't have stayed with me."

"Veronica," he said, and I tumbled into his waiting arms, letting him hold me, comfort me.

"Why don't you get along with Uncle Duncan?" Elly asked as I left the Kane estate. I don't startle easily, but that made me jump. "I mean, he's your brother! You only came to visit him because you think he's going to die, and you wanted to fix things before he died. What is there to fix? What is he not over?"

"You were listening?" It was all I could think to say.

"Not to everything. Answer me!" she begged, close to tears, "Answer me! Why can't you be like a normal sister and brother? Why can't you have Thanksgiving dinners together, big Christmas parties, why didn't you know your niece?"

"Someday," I promised, starting to cry. "I will tell you someday, but I can't right now. I'm so sorry."