Drunk Logan
Chapter 32

A/N: Ok...again. In an effort to get this chapter out, I'm foregoing the replies to the reviews. Although, I will say, that there were some good ones in there and I'm still going to respond to them...it'll just have to be postponed. Thanks a bunch!

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"Logan?"

"Yeah?" He turned to see Veronica coming into the living room with wet hair and dressed in a robe.

"Have you heard from my dad? It's been a while since he called." She was starting to get a little concerned. Her dad could take care of himself, but she was definitely learning to expect the unexpected with Troy.

"Yeah, you actually just missed him. He came home to grab a bite and I think he got a change of clothes. He was headed back because the FBI is on their way to get their investigation of Troy going. He doesn't think he'll be returning too soon, but said to have you give him a call. While we're at it, we need to make the rounds of phone calls to everyone else to make sure they know you're alright. I've been so focused on you that I forgot about them. They're going to kill us, me mainly." They laughed.

"Yeah, let's make the calls and then head to bed. Apparently I'm sleeping with you tonight."

"Huh?" Logan paled and his mind went directly to the conversation he'd had with Keith. He didn't know what he was going to do if she was offering herself on a silver platter to him. His throat was dry and his mind was racing.

"Relax, Logan. I'm just saying that I'm not going to be sleeping in my room, since some form of storm seemed to have swept through it." She winked at him.

"Oh, yeah, I forgot about that. I was going to start cleaning it up when you were in the shower, but your dad came in and we were talking. I can go do it right now if you want." Not that he minded sleeping with her. He loved it, of course. He was just going to have to figure out a way to lower the sensitivity of his body when he laid next to her. That wasn't going to be easy.

He felt bad about her room. He knew that he destroyed it and had thrown everything, including all of her stuff around the room.

"No, I'm too tired tonight, I just want to make my calls and get to bed. Plus, I'd like you to call Duncan. I'm just not ready to deal with him yet. I know that we can and will be friends, I just want to give us both some more time."

"Okay, sounds good. Start dialing, your calls are going to take longer than mine." He smiled and chuckled at her.

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When Veronica had hung up from her last call and reassuring Weevil and Wallace that she was truly fine, she looked at Logan and blew out a breath.

"Well, how did it go?" He asked her, recognizing her exhaustion.

"Well, dad and I got a chance to catch up a little bit, but he didn't have much time. He did tell me, though, that we would be staying here for a little while. He already talked to your parents and got permission for us to stay. He said he'd talk to me about it later, when he had more time. Weevil did his tough-guy, 'I wasn't worried' routine. Wallace, on the other hand was a talker. He's going to come over tomorrow and hang out. Is that okay?" Logan nodded.

"Hey," he said as he enveloped her in a big hug. "My Casa is your casa, Baby." Veronica blanched at the pet name.

"Oh, Ronnie, I'm sorry. I know that Troy said that a lot. I didn't mean anything by it, it was just an accident.

"It's okay, I know. It just took me off-guard for a minute." She gave him a little smile and then leaned against him. Logan wrapped his arm around her and then pulled her into his lap.

"Ah! What are you doing, Logan?" She said as she laughed at her surprised reaction.

"I'm taking you to bed, O Sleepy One." He lifted her up and carried her into his room.

"Are you all ready for bed or do you need me to drop you off in the bathroom first?"

"Nope, all ready...bed please, if you would sir." She giggled. She loved that it was just them and not just physically. So much of the time they'd spent together had been about everyone else, that they hadn't had a chance to just be together. They were finally able to forget about Duncan and paternity issues, Troy and his issues, Jenny and Logan's father. It was just them and she felt more carefree than she had in such a long time. She could tell that he was feeling it to. His demeanor had changed from extremely protective to mostly playful and loving.

"I could get used to this." Veronica sighed.

"Yeah, me too." Logan kissed her nose and then laid her on the bed. He turned off the lights except for the one on his side of the bed and then he went into the bathroom to get ready.

When he undressed, he heard something metal clink across the bathroom floor. When he searched it, he saw something shiny in the corner of the bathroom. Bending down, he picked up the wedding ring Veronica had been wearing. Logan had forgotten that he put it in his shirt pocket when he took it off of Veronica earlier. He stared at it for a moment wondering what he should do with it. He really wanted to get rid of it, but it wasn't his place. Instead, he placed it in his drawer.
When he came back out, he snuck over to the bed and slid in gently so he didn't wake Veronica.

"Hey," Veronica said as she snuggled up to him.

"Oh, I thought you'd be asleep. I was trying to be quiet."

"I almost was, but I wanted to wait for you. Good night, Logan. I love you." She was speaking softly and slow. Logan knew that she'd be out in no time.

"I love you, too, Ronnie. Good night."

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"Good morning." Veronica said as she entered the kitchen to the smell of a grand breakfast that Mrs. Navarro was preparing.

"Good morning, Sleepyhead." Logan kissed her and wrapped her in his arms.

He walked her over to the dining room table and pulled a chair out for her, motioning for her to sit. Then, he went back to the kitchen and returned with both of their plates.

When Veronica was sure that Mrs. Navarro couldn't hear them, she looked at Logan, trying to decide how to approach the next topic. She didn't want to play games with him, so she chose the direct method of communication.

"So...funny thing. I woke up last night or early this morning actually. Do you know what I found?" With his head shake, she continued, "I found a pillow, a rather large pillow laying between us. In fact the only part of us actually touching were where your arms were wrapped around me. What's going on?"

She wasn't used to simply asking for the information she wanted. Normally, Veronica would jump through a bunch of hoops, make up some real-sounding story, talk to family and friends and anything else she could do to get information without actually asking for it straight out.

Logan grinned shyly and ducked his head trying to hide the blush that threatened his face. Veronica knew that it had to be something since he was acting this way about being caught.

"Well, I wanted to be close to you last night, but I didn't want to be too close. It doesn't take much for me get excited around you, Ronnie. I just want to treat you the way you deserve and letting myself be turned on by you, is not a great idea." Veronica looked confused.

"Look, I just want to make sure that any decisions we make about how physical we get are made with clear heads...not while we're sleeping." He shrugged and hoped that she would understand that he was just trying to do the right thing with her. Because of his history, he knew it was a stretch to believe, but he hoped she would.

"Aw, look at my cute boyfriend. Are you trying to be mature and respectful? Nah, that CAN'T be it. You're Logan Echolls, Neptune High's resident man-slut." A smile played across her lips.

"Yes, look at me...wait, did you just call me cute?" He feigned offended.

"Yeah, what's wrong with that?"

"I think I deserve more than just cute. I should be hot, smokin', at the least devilishly handsome!"

"Well, I was referring to your attitude, not your likeness to a Greek-god. I was thinking cute, as in cute like a bunny. You're such a softy." She was trying to suppress the laugh that wanted to bubble out of her.

"You just think you're so funny, don't you?" He reached over and began tickling her.

She was laughing so hard that she actually fell out of her chair, taking Logan with her. They were on a heap on the floor, Logan still tickling her, when they heard Mrs. Navarro's voice.

"Mr. Fennell is here to see you." Veronica and Logan stopped and looked up to see Veronica's best friend's huge eyes staring back at them.

"Oh, uh, hey, Wallace."

"Hey, man, uh, what's going on?"

Veronica and Logan were speaking over each other as they clumsily tried to untangle their limbs and get up.

"Hey...guys. "What's uh, going on?" Wallace was trying to cover his shock at finding them like that.

"Not much, what's up with you?" Veronica said as she straightened her hair.

"Well, I was just coming to see my BFF after her latest brush with death." He looked pointedly at her. "Now come over here, girl."

Veronica smiled and flew into his arms. They hugged tightly and Wallace chuckled.

"It's good to see you girl." He whispered into her hair.

"You too." She pulled back and smiled at him.

Wallace watched the looks passing between his best friend and Logan as they all sat down at the table. He couldn't hold back any longer.

"So, what's going on with you two?" At their blank looks, he continued. "Come on, it's obvious. Just fess up."

"Well, okay. You're right, there is something going on, Wallace. I know it's a little hard to understand. We haven't spent very much time together and you've barely gotten to know Logan..." She was rambling on, nervous about her best friend's reaction when Wallace cut in on her.

"Hey, V, it's okay. I haven't been around much, yeah, but I can see what you mean to Logan. Anybody looking at the boy can figure that out."

Logan snorted.

"What?" Wallace and Veronica turned to Logan.

"Well Veronica needed to be convinced."

"Of course she did. She's spent so long being purposefully oblivious to what other people think of her. You probably had to smack her in the head with a two-by-four." He chuckled.

"Well, not quite. He did yell at me, though." Veronica pouted and stuck her bottom lip out.

"What?" Wallace's face scrunched up.

"I had to tell her to shut up because she kept interrupting me and wouldn't let me tell her how I felt." He shrugged.

"Yeah, that little blonde has a mouth on her, doesn't she?" Wallace knew how strong-willed his best friend could be.

"HEY!" Veronica was looking back and forth between the two most important men in her life, next to her dad. They all laughed.

"By the way, did you guys know that there is like an army of photographers outside the gates. I thought I was going to run a couple over on my way in." His demeanor had changed to one of concern.

"You had the chance to take some of those vultures out and you didn't? What were you thinking?" Logan piped up.

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The three spent the day together just enjoying life. They swam, played video games and pigged out on junk food.

Keith joined them later in the day and brought pizza with him for dinner. They had a great dinner and then Wallace left, saying that he would see them at school on Monday.

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"How ya doing, honey." Keith wrapped his arm around his daughter and squeezed.
"Good. It's been awhile. How's everything going with the investigation?" Keith had called them earlier in the day to let him know that he'd be home for dinner. All of the people working the case decided to take Saturday night and Sunday off and meet back at the station on Monday. Keith had gotten about 4 hours of sleep sporadically throughout the night at the station. He and the rest of the investigators were looking forward to a little break.

"Well, there's a lot of information to get through, but we're working on it. The FBI followed up on Troy's ex-girlfriend. Apparently, he convinced her to run away with him. His plan was to use her as a way to buy some time, making everyone think that he was off somewhere with her. What actually happened is that she got to their meeting place and he never showed."

"The FBI has also seized Troy's computer and have a tech going through his files one by one. It'll probably be a long process, but it should provide additional evidence against him. No one wants to leave room for him to get out of this thing on a technicality. Everyone is working really hard on this, Veronica. I've been impressed by their doggedness."

"Ooh, I've got myself a team of professionals working FOR me. That's different, isn't it?" They chuckled.

"Yeah. You know, I've bought you some time, but you're going to have to go in and give your statement to the FBI. I got them to agree to wait until Monday after school. They're expecting you right after."

"Ok. I knew I wouldn't be able to avoid it forever. Thank you for buying me a little bit of time, though. I know you probably had to do some wheeling and dealing to get them to agree." She smiled softly at him.

"No problem. There's something else I need to talk to you about, Veronica."

"What's that?"

"Well, tomorrow I was thinking I'd start apartment hunting. Get us into a new place, new start. What do you think?" Keith was hoping that she'd be excited and wouldn't question the move. He didn't want tell her about the pictures that Troy had, most likely ones taken from inside the apartment.

"Really, why would you want to move? Can we even afford to move?"

"Don't worry about it, Veronica. It'll be fine. With the obsession Troy had with you, he probably knows that apartment inside and out anyway. I'd just like to get a fresh start for us in a place that he's not been in before. Okay?"

"Sure, Dad. So...am I coming on this little apartment hunting expedition of yours?"

"Well, if you'd like to, I'd love to have you come, both of you." He addressed Logan for the first time since he'd be talking to Veronica. "We could make a day out of it. I think we could all use some time to just focus on something besides Troy and this whole mess."

Veronica looked at Logan expectantly. "Sure, that sounds great." It felt great for Logan to be invited on such a Mars-oriented outing.

"Great! Now, I'm exhausted, I'm going to turn in early," Keith said. He had only gotten about 8 hours of sleep in the previous 60 hours.

"I made some calls today during breaks and set up some appointments with apartment managers. The first appointment is at 10 a.m, but we should be done around 3 o'clock or so. Be ready to leave here around 9:30 okay?" Keith was speaking as he walked toward the hall.

"Sure, Dad. No problem." Veronica tried to sound chipper. The truth was she felt bad. Not only was she still tired from her ordeal, but she saw the exhaustion her father wore. He had circles under his eyes and he was a little pale. When he walked out, his shoulders were slumped and his voice fairly monotone. He was completely out of energy and Veronica felt bad that she was the reason he had been working so tirelessly.

She sighed. She knew it couldn't be helped and that he would be okay. He may have looked harmless, but she'd never know anyone with the internal strength her father had. Nothing could keep him down. He was invincible in her eyes.

"Hey, you okay?" She had not noticed Logan walking up behind her, watching the contemplative look she gave her dad.

"Yeah, I'm just getting tired and my poor dad, he's so exhausted. He's done so much for me over the last couple of days. Here I am, carefree and enjoying life again, and he's barely sleeping in an effort to make sure that Troy will never hurt me again." She turned and looked at Logan.

"I'm so used to relying on myself and having my own strength, but you two have been my strength through this whole thing. Thank you so much. I love you, Logan. I don't want to think of what it would have been like if you hadn't been here." Her eyes had teared up and he pulled her into a tight embrace.

"Hey, there's no reason to thank us. I can't totally speak for your father, but I'm sure he probably feels like I do. We love you so much that if we could have done more for you, we would have and still would. I don't know exactly how we got here, Ronnie. It all seems like a blur now. All I know is that I wouldn't choose to be anywhere else."

Veronica took a deep breath and looked up into Logan's beautiful brown eyes. "I don't know how this happened either, but I wouldn't choose to be anywhere else, either."

"Good. Now why don't you go take a relaxing bath or a dip in the hot tub while I get started on cleaning up your room. Unfortunately, you're going to have to start sleeping in there now...since your dad is going to be around more. I don't think he'd be too excited about us sharing a bed." He shrugged playfully.

"Yeah, you're probably right. Him and his friends, Smith & Wesson, might take issue with it." They both laughed. "BUT, I am going with you. There's no reason I shouldn't help you clean it up or at least watch you clean it up. I'm going to have a long enough night away from you. I don't want to extend that by going our separate ways now."
"Oh, you're so smart. How did I get lucky enough to find someone with looks and brains?" He said as he led her down the hall and to her room.

While they were in her room, Logan was talking about going to school on Monday and that they'd have to spend more time catching up on homework.

"At least we'll be together. That's going to make this all so much easier. I don't think I've ever been excited about getting going on my homework. Somehow, though, the thought of having you as a study partner just makes the whole thing seem so much more appealing." He smirked and waggled his eyebrows at her, but when she didn't laugh, his expression changed.

"Hey, what's going on in that beautiful head of yours?" Logan looked at her with concern.

"Nothing...I was just thinking...you know, about school." She looked at him, hoping that he would understand what she was saying just through her look.

"And?" Veronica put her head down and tried to give Logan an explanation.

"And...I was thinking that maybe we shouldn't serve up the shock of all shocks with our relationship on Monday. Maybe we should just let people get used to the idea that we are no longer sworn enemies. We can work them into seeing us as friends. Then, after all of the media hype about this has died down and everyone is used to seeing us together, it will be easier." She hadn't looked back up at him.

Veronica didn't really want to hide their relationship. She knew how difficult this was going to be on Logan. Veronica was used to not having friends and having to ignore all of the things said about her. Plus, people would only see her as moving up in the world by dating Logan.

On the other hand, Logan would be pelted with questions about what he was doing with her and why. He was the king of Neptune High and Veronica didn't think that he would lose that, but he'd have to put up with all of the talk.

She knew him very well. She knew that he might not care so much about the things that were said about him. The things said about her, though, could keep him in detention for the rest of the school year, with as many fights as he'd get in to. She didn't want that for him. None of this was his doing, he was just cleaning up the mess. He really didn't deserve to go through any more because of Veronica and her issues.

"Look, I really thought that I'd never feel half of what I did for Lilly with anyone else. With you, though, I feel so much more...like I wasted my time with anyone who wasn't you." Logan didn't want to upset Veronica by speaking badly of Lilly. He really had loved her and would never speak ill of her. "Don't get me wrong, she was great and I'd love to have her back...but only as a friend."

"I've thought about this a lot. What I had with her was great, it really was, but it was nothing compared to what I have with you. I loved her, but I didn't feel like we were partners. You fill a gap that I never knew was there, you make me whole. I don't remember a time when I was as content as I am with you. I love you."

"The only thing I keep thinking is, 'wow, so this is what it feels like to truly love and care for someone who feels the same way about me. This is awesome, Ronnie. Not only do I not want to hide that, I don't actually think I can hide that from everyone. It's physically impossible for me to keep this inside." He was grinning excitedly like a little boy ready to tear into his first present on Christmas morning.

"Well," she sniffed back the tears that threatened to fall. "When you put it like that, I guess we can't hide it after we tell Duncan." She had slipped Duncan's name in, hoping that Logan wouldn't get upset.

"What?"

"Well, I've already hurt him so much by turning him down. I just don't want to add to that by him finding out about us along with everyone else. Plus, he's your best friend and I don't want him to feel ambushed." She figured that this would buy them a little bit of time. She loved Logan's devotion to her and his determination to face everyone no matter what. She really just wanted to protect him as much as possible.

"You're right." Veronica was a little surprised by his lack of argument. Then she watched him pull out his cell phone and press a button.

"Hey, DK. I need to talk to you about something. Are you going to be around tomorrow afternoon?

"Great, I'll call you when I'm sure about the time, but it shouldn't be too late...Alright, later." He closed his phone and looked at a shocked Veronica.

"Well, now that we're going to get that out of the way, Monday shouldn't be a problem."

"I guess so." Veronica knew there was nothing more to say. Logan had made up his mind and he wouldn't be deterred. She was a little nervous about facing Duncan, everyone at school and the media; and about giving her statement to the FBI. She knew, though, without a shadow of a doubt, that Logan would be there with her. She could feel his strength and felt like it fed into her.

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