A/N: sorry its been such a long wait, but now I'm on school holidays so I'll be able to write a lot more regularly which means more updates! I think there'll only be one more installment after this one though, but I'm planning on starting a new story after this one is done. As always, xxx means a switch in point of view, and I own nothing except the story line, jason carter and the sheriff.

"Alright then, Miss Mars, who do you think the killer is this time?" Sheriff Incompetent reminds me of Lamb more and more, especially the way that he doesn't seem to want to believe me about anything. I'm struck with the thought that maybe life always works in the circles that the Sheriff's Department seems to go through, and people and scenarios always seem to repeat themselves. But enough of the philosophy, it's time to get accusative. My favourite part of the job.

"I know that the killer is Mrs Kelly's husband's lover, Sheriff. May Humphries." I say, completely sure of my accusation.

"Hmmm," Sheriff Incompetent scrutinized me for a second. "We need to get back to the station. Deputy Carter, bring Miss Humphries in for questioning, Miss Mars I need you to tell me your entire thought process and show me the evidence. We've got a long night ahead of us." For once I agree with him.

"Sure thing, Sheriff, just let me grab my purse." I say, turning for my messenger bag, which I thought was still on the couch. But instead Logan is standing behind me, my purse between his finger and thumb.

"She's gonna be a couple minutes, Sheriff. Why don't you just go on without her." He says, smirking as I try to grab my purse off him.

"No, Sheriff, just hold on a sec." I lunge for the bag again, but he swings it out of reach.

"Ah ah ah, Ronnie. There's one more question you have to answer." I give up trying to grab hold of my messenger bag, and motion for the Sheriff to go on without me. Recognising my reluctant surrender, Logan begins talking again. "So, there's a small Logan voice inside your head that judges the guys you date and helps you solve cases?" His infuriating (infuriatingly sexy, more like) smirk is growing wider.

"Yeah, I guess there is. I wish I hadn't been that blunt about it." I mutter, but brighten up, "So, was that it, can I go now?"

"Not so fast Ronnie, I have something else that I need to hear your thoughts on." I look up at him, expectantly. "Do you love me?" His eyes are soft, but impossible to read, and I can't think of what the right answer is.

"I didn't. after I left I hated you, and I went out with other guys, and I thought I was completely over you. But, uh, coming back, and seeing you again, I, uh, I think I do." I blush crimson at that, and wish that I hadn't been inflicted with sudden verbal diahorrea.

I expect him to laugh, or taunt me, or something – that's what the old Logan would have done. But this new, mature Logan just looks at me, with those unreadable eyes, and slowly pulls me towards him.

Our lips meet in the most mindblowing kiss I've ever had. Except possibly that one outside the Camelot, Junior year, also with Logan. I've not had a kiss this good since I left Neptune, but maybe that's because no one I've been with since has shared the same history, and magnetic attraction, as Logan and I have. He slips his tongue between my lips, and suddenly I remember where I am. In the lobby of the Neptune Grand, having just unveiled a murderer. Sheriff Incompetent is waiting for me! What am I doing? I'm going back to New York as soon as this case is closed – I can't start up something with Logan again.

I pull away sharply, grabbing my messenger bag from his limp hand, and run out to the parking lot. He realises I've gone, and as I get into my pick-up truck he shouts something at me. His words almost make me faint at the wheel as I drive off towards the Sheriff's department.

Xxxxxxxxx

"I've never stopped loving you, Veronica Mars!" I yell at her departing car. I wonder if she's heard me, but I know that even if she didn't, I'll tell her again before she can leave me.

I make up my mind to stop by the station some time in the morning, probably with breakfast, and tell her how I feel. This time, Veronica isn't going to leave without knowing that I'm irreversably eternally in love with her. My God, I'm such a girl! No guy should express feelings like that! I drive back to my condo and finally change my clothes.

I pick out an outfit that I think she'll like; a pair of dark jeans and a pinstripe shirt. May as well look neat when I proclaim my love for her. I can't believe I'm planning it out like this – I've never been this pathetic, not in all of my twenty-four years, but Veronica always manages to change something in me.

I call Mac, and we talk about what went down at the hotel last night. I'm surprised that she picks up at all, what with it being four in the morning, but she's up for conversation and we end up talking for a few hours, which keeps my nerves at bay.

So this is it. I can't wait anymore. If I let Veronica get any further with her investigations, she'll be gone by this evening, and I can't let that happen. It's seven am now, and I'm standing outside the Sheriff's Department, clutching a bag of pain au chocolat and two cups of coffee. If I remember rightly, from her work with the Balboa County Police, then she won't have had time to eat yet, and will welcome me at least due to the food in my hands.

I walk in, and just for a second I watch the scene behind the front desk. Veronica is sitting at a desk covered in paperwork, the Sheriff opposite her. That deputy, Jason I think she called him, is bent over her shoulder, just outside Veronica's personal bubble. She's obviously called him on being too close to him, which I find hilarious for some reason. They're looking serious, but actually pretty pleased with themselves.

"Can I help you?" I'm brought out of my spell by Inga, the receptionist that I haven't had to cross paths with for several years.

"Sorry, yeah, I'm here to see Veronica Mars." I finally tell her.

"Oh! Isn't it just lovely that she's back. I'm so pleased to see her, the department just hasn't been the same since she stopped dropping by." Inga gushes, and I nod in agreement. "Maybe you can convince her to stay here after the case is closed."

"That's what I'm hoping, Inga. Can I go back there and deliver her breakfast?" She motions me past and I creep up behind Veronica. I've noticed how much the silent approach I use bugs her, and the look on her face when she spots me is priceless. "How's it going Ronnie?"

"Oh Jesus! Logan you scared the crap out of me!" She turns, that priceless look returning. "You shouldn't be here, we've got serious case stuff to work on."

Deputy Jason glares as I lean into her personal space and she doesn't push me away. "I brought breakfast." I wave the bag enticingly. "And coffee."

At my words her head jerks up, and she grabs the bag out of my hands. "Oh my God, you're incredible." She gushes as she digs in.

"I know, I know, that's why you love me." I say, laughing. She stiffens at my words, but doesn't deny it, and that's encouraging. "I kind of need to talk to you. Sheriff, do you think you could spare Detective Mars for a moment?"

"Sure thing, Mr Echolls." Sometimes, it's good to have famous parents and connections with the law. I take Veronica by the hand, and lead her, and her breakfast, into the interrogation room.

"So, um, about what went down at the ground earlier." I've never felt this nervous before, not even going into any of Veronica and my previous relationships. "You didn't really give me a chance to reply to your statement."

"Really, I was under the impression that you yelled your response at me as I drove off." She's speaking very evenly, but I can tell she's anything but calm on the inside.

"You heard that? I wasn't sure, that's kind of why I chased you down here." I admit, trying to read her face for a reaction.

"Yeah, I heard, but I didn't think it was the best way to hear those words. I mean, yelled across a parking lot at a leaving car? Not your best work, Logan." She's smiling warmly, and moving closer and closer to me. Soon our lips are only half an inch apart.

"Veronica Mars, I have never stopped loving you." I whisper, before capturing her lips with mine. Another kiss, almost as amazing as the one at the Grand this morning, and lasting twice as long. As we break apart, I notice Deputy Jason Thingummy glaring at me through the blinds. "Think you can call off your watch-puppy, Ronnie?" I ask.

She turns, and notices the jealous policeman. "God, I think I gave Jason the wrong idea. Why are officers of the law attracted to me?" She complains.

"Oh, I'm Ronnie." I put on a high pitched squeak that sounds nothing like the woman in front of me. "Poor me, everyone thinks I'm hot, and policemen fall over themselves to do me favours, and help me pervert the course of justice in return for the promise of sexual favours! Oh no!"

"Okay, okay, I'll admit it's pretty useful, but its annoying too!" She giggles at my impression. "So, uh, now what?"

"Well, listen, I was kind of hoping, that, since we've now both got our feelings out there, and we're in agreement that we love eachother and we want to be together, maybe you could move back to Neptune?" I suggest, tentatively.

"Or, you could move to New York with me?" She suggests, obviously not relishing the idea of moving back here. At least she doesn't want to leave me, that's encouraging.

"Ronnie, I can't move to New York, my base is here. This is where my publicist, publisher and editor live, as well as my friends and what's left of my shitty family." I say, gently. "Why can't you stay here? You've got loved ones here too."

She looks unsure about my statement, and I realise that I may be fighting a losing battle. Her phone rings, and she gets it out, avoiding my eyes.

"Hello?….Oh, hey Gorgeous!….No, I can talk, especially about that….Why does it matter in the case?" She's pacing around the small room, as I frantically try to work out whether this 'gorgeous' she is talking to is a man or a woman. "Oh come on, Robert, that's so not a big deal." There's my answer. Now, is this Robert the reason she doesn't want to move back here? I never thought to ask if she was seeing anybody back in New York. "When will I be back?" She pauses, and I know that my future happiness lies in the balance here. She knows I can't move up there, but I have no idea what she's gonna do. "I'm actually not sure, Rob. There's a pretty big chance that, uh," She looks at me nervously, "That I'll be staying in Neptune." When she says that I can feel the stupid grin spreading across my face, and she briefly presses her lips to mine before continuing her conversation. "No, there's actually not much you could say to make me stay. Okay, I'll see you sometime, call me whenever. Bye."

"So, you're gonna stay?" I ask, tentatively.

"If you want me to." She says, nervously.

"I do."