I Told You So (6/?)
Chapter title: Her Denial / His Plan

Rating: R for this part
Summary: 2 years post finale Veronica and Lamb are both working at Mars Investigations. On their way back from a case they run into some car trouble and end up having to spend the night together. DoVe

Characters/Pairing: Veronica/Lamb (mentions Keith, Logan, Logan/Veronica, Piz)
Spoilers: entire series but AU from 3X14
Word Count: 1447

Disclaimer: I don't own Veronica Mars or any of the people, shows or any other real person, place or thing mentioned here.

Thanks so much to everyone who has reviewed, alerted and/or favorited!

So yeah, I obviously haven't posted anything in months, and I wish I could say that this is the first of many, but it's not. My writers block has only gotten worse and I'm so busy with school that I literally have no time to do anything let alone write. But I've been piecing this together for the last few months and figured that as a late Xmas present to my readers..the ones I have left after this looong hiatus, I'd post it. Hope you like it! I do intend to try to get back to writing this summer and when I do, unfinished fics will be my priority so this one, Better Life, More than I Deserve and my WIP's from my other ships, my CaVe and LoVe fics, will be at least attempted before I focus on my new stuff, and yes there will be new stuff, i have ideas, just no drive to actually write any of it, but hopefully that will change!

I woke up to the sound of my cell phone ringing the next morning and was startled for a second when I realized that not only was I naked, but I wasn't alone.

It only took a few moments for the memories of the previous night to invade my brain and I couldn't help but smile. I turned in Don's arms and spent a few minutes just taking in his appearance. He looked so peaceful, so happy, and god could I relate. I never thought I'd be so happy to give in to a weakness like I had the night before.

I laid a soft kiss on his cheek as I squirmed out of his arms and grabbed my phone listening to my voicemail. "Hello Miss Mars. I just wanted to let you know that the car is done, you can pick it up at any time."

And just like that my reverie was broken and reality set in. I couldn't do this, I wanted to, but I couldn't. What would my dad say? My friends? Was it really worth throwing away the friendship we'd built for something that could implode in less than a week? But more than anything, I new that the real world, the world outside of the hotel room we were currently inhabiting and perfectly happy in, that world would never accept this. We'd both already been through too much to try and make something work that was doomed from the beginning.

I dropped the phone in my bag as I turned back to Don's sleeping form and sighed. He wouldn't give up easy, I knew that. But I could be stubborn and I'd need to be.

It really was for the best, for both of our sakes.

When I woke up the next morning she was walking out of the shower and I jumped out of bed and pulled her against me. She gave me a quick kiss, but then pulled away suddenly and I was dumbstruck. With just that slight rejection I knew that something had already tried to break apart what I was in no way willing to give up. "Veronica, what's wrong?"

She met my eyes and smiled half heartedly. "The car is done, so as soon as you're ready we can get going."

She tried to walk away, but I pulled her to me and held her face in my hands. "Stop, what's going on? Did I do something wrong?"

She gave me a real smile this time and kissed me, but when she backed away her expression was serious. "No Don, you did nothing wrong, in fact you did everything right, more than right."

Far be it from me to refuse an ego boost...but this one, didn't seem like it was gonna be worth it. "I don't understand, what's wrong then?"

She backed away from me then and when I moved towards her she held up her hand to keep me away. "Look, we both know that this isn't going to go anywhere. It was amazing and I loved it, but think about my dad and what everyone will say and how awkward it will be when we crash and burn. I think we should just take this for what it was, an amazing night that two friends spent together giving each other what they needed."

Fuck, really? Should have seen that coming...oh wait, that's right, I did. But I wouldn't be Don Lamb if I let it go at that. So I advanced on her and pulled her into another kiss that she didn't bother to stop. "I'll remind you that you said that next time."

She shook her head and pushed me away. "There won't be a next time."

I smirked and just watched her as she dressed. "You and I both know that's not true."

She didn't say anything else about it. During breakfast and the whole drive home she acted like nothing had happened. But I knew it had, so did she, and visions of her beneath me ran through my mind the whole way.

When we got to her place to drop her off, I pulled her in for a kiss before she could protest and as she walked away, I smiled. I gave her a week before she'd be at my doorstep. I'd be willing to bet money on it.

Veronica Mars wasn't gonna get away from me this time.

"I'm sorry. But I must have heard you wrong. I could swear you just told me that you're in love with my daughter."

Keith sat across from me at his desk with an expression that I can only describe as complete and utter disbelief and confusion. Any minute now he was gonna start searching for Rod Serling and hearing the 'Twilight Zone' theme. But I just smiled, this was phase one of my plan. Go to the dad, get him on my side, then prove my worthiness her, and finally, prove her inability to stay away.

As far as the progress on phase one so far…well that wasn't a sure thing yet. "No sir, you heard right. I love her, always have to be honest. I just thought I should tell you, be honest and upfront. Wouldn't want you to hear it from someone else after all."

The look of confusion stayed on his face as he leaned towards me. And I just knew the question 'Did he just call me sir?' was running through his mind, but he was able to hold that in and instead went with. "Do I have another daughter that I don't know about?"

I snorted out a small laugh at his question, I couldn't help it. If I was being honest I'm sure it was a huge shock for him considering our relationship and its changes over the years. "I don't believe so Keith."

Keith leaned back and let out a long breath before raising both of his hands and setting them flat on his desk. "Ok, let me get this straight then….."

I sat in silence as he tried to find the words and I'll admit I felt a little guilty at that point, I hadn't told him to freak him out. I really just thought that the best way to prove my point was to get him on my side. Maybe that had been a mistake. "You're in love with my daughter. Veronica. My daughter Veronica….Mars. Who you've bickered and snarked with for years. Who you arrested countless times while sheriff and have never shown any interest in outside of your jobs. You're in love with my Veronica…"

I nodded and sat up straight. "Sure am."

It was about that moment that his eyes started moving uncontrollably and I'm pretty sure he was looking for hidden cameras. "Is it April Fools Day or something?"

I shook my head. "Nope."

Keith sat back again and gave me a suspicious look. "Please tell me you understand why I'm so leery about this."

"Oh yeah, I understand. I just thought you deserved full disclosure. I wanted you to know my intentions with her before I actively pursued her. Didn't want you to think that I was just in it to bed her a few times. I'm in it for the long haul."

And the confusion remained. "And she knows about this?"

And here we have the clincher…do I tell him everything or do I sugar coat. Fuck, no contest, don't tell daddy dearest that you plundered her nether regions, be smart Don. "I think she has an idea."

And then he was laughing immediately. "Good luck with that Don."

The smirk came to my lips before I could stop it. "What do you mean?"

"Oh, I'm not saying you don't have a shot, but I know my daughter and it takes a lot. And I mean a lot. It would have to be true love for her to….." But he didn't finish his sentence….he stopped short and as a look of realization passed over his face, I took a deep breath, eyed the door…and the location of his gun as he got his voice back. "she has more than an idea, doesn't she?"

I just shrugged and smiled…no sense in making things worse for me… "You could say that."

30 seconds later I was leaving Keith's office with his blessing for my pursuit of his beloved only child…and a request for two Tylenol and a bottle of Jack…..

Phase one….success.

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