She opened her eyes at the sound of her alarm and stretched out in bed, letting the music play loudly. The holiday carols were already playing. They made her smile first thing in the morning. There was something else making her smile. Today, unlike the days before, she would not be alone. She jumped out of bed and headed to her closet, readying herself for the day ahead.

She pulled out some clothes, remembering to layer so she wouldn't get cold in the snow. When was the last time she played in the snow? She couldn't remember. Probably the slight snowfall they'd had in Neptune back during her senior year of high school. They'd been so psyched that they spent all day playing outside. In what must have been an inch of snow. They've never seen real snow; she smirked as she looked out her window at the snow covered ground. It had snowed for three days straight already; every day adding a little more to the magic.

She jumped into the shower and enjoyed the feeling of the warm water against her skin. It was both refreshing and reinvigorating. She smiled, showering quickly, hoping to run downstairs and start breakfast. She was sure that Logan would be famished.

She threw on her tights and then her jeans and her thick socks. Then she put on her long john shirt and a turtleneck over it. She'd put on a sweater before they leave. She brushed her hair and rubbed in some gel, the way Mac had taught her. She'd never thought she'd like having longer hair again, but since she'd done it, she loved it.

She whistled as she went down the stairs and into the living room when, she smelled the scent of cooking bacon. She stopped for a moment, making sure that she was in the right place and then continued on into the kitchen. She stood at the doorframe when she saw him, at the stove, the griddle on, eggs and bacon sizzling. He turned around to face her, an old v-neck sweater and some jeans adorning his body. She smiled, remembering the Trina story and finally looked up to meet his eyes.

"Good morning." He smiled as he turned to grab the toast jumping out of the toaster.

"What… what are you doing?"

"Well… you were so hospitable yesterday, that I felt obliged to make you breakfast."

"But… this is MY B&B."

"And I'm making breakfast. Go sit." He smiled. She smiled back, not believing what she was seeing. "Coffee, tea or orange juice."

"Coffee please."

"You sure?"

"I can't start my morning without it."

"Veronica Mars addicted to coffee? Our conscientious Veronica Mars? You do realize caffeine is a drug?"

"If you don't give it to me, I'll be very grouchy."

"Coffee it is." He laughed and proceeded to pour her a cup. He walked over with her plate of food and her cup of coffee. He returned to the kitchen for his own. Then sat across from her at the same table they'd sat at the day before.

"Bon appetite." She nodded in response as they began to dig into the warm breakfast.

She enjoyed the flavor of scrambled eggs with onions and mushrooms, and savory smoked turkey bacon. Of course a slice of potato bread toast buttered lightly. He knew exactly what she loved. She felt the familiar feeling in her stomach and wished it away. He'd known her for too long.

"This is nice." She put down her fork for a moment and took a sip of her coffee.

"Good?"

"Mmmhmm." She nodded as she drank. When she put her cup down she took a bite of her bacon and smiled. It was better than good. "Actually… it's nice to wake up and be able to have breakfast with someone. With you." He looked up, and smiled at her; then continued on his quest to devour his food.

She was right, he was famished. She watched him eat for a while, and then proceeded to finish her own plate. Once they were both done, their forks clunked against the plates. They sat back against their chairs, full and satisfied.

"So, what are the plans for today?" Logan stood and gathered the plates, heading to place them within the sink.

"Umm… I was thinking maybe we could go sledding."

"Sounds great."

"But first I have to make a few calls. Make sure everyone will get here this weekend. Can you call Dick and Trina?"

"Yup." He smiled as he headed back toward the table and plopped back down on the seat.

"Great. It's Tuesday, Christmas is on Saturday. I want everyone here on Friday, early preferably. So, they have three days to get themselves ready and over here."

"Well, they all know about the B&B, and unless something comes up, I know they all wanted to come and congratulate you." He smiled and she just had to smile back. There was something so infectious about his grin. Something, that stated that he was truly happy.

"So, umm… I chose a name. I think I'm going to call it the Northern Bungalow. I kinda like the way it sounds." She began to put away all of the food that he used to cook as she spoke. She turned when she felt his eyes on her. "What, you think it's stupid?"

"NO. No, it's a great name."

"Good."

There was a pause in the conversation as she cleared off the counter, and began the dishwasher.

"Veronica, I have to talk to you." She turned around to face him as she leaned up against the counter. She had a feeling this would be serious.

"Ok."

"There's something I've been meaning to tell you…."

She cursed under her breath as the phone rang loudly.

"Hold on to that thought." She headed over to the phone and picked up the cold handle.

"Hello?"

"VERONICA! Merry Christmas sweetie!"

"Mac! Hi!"

"How are things going? How's the place coming along?"

"Not too bad actually. It's fully furnished and I'm just putting the finishing touches on it. It'll be ready by this weekend."

"Perfect. Well, I was calling to let you know that I'll be coming up tomorrow. Help you set up."

"Oh… oh umm… actually Mac, Logan is here…." She tried to be as subtle about the hint as possible, not necessarily telling her not to come, but not making her think she needed to.

"LOGAN! How is that boy doing? Why hasn't he called me? He knows my cell phone number! I can't wait to see him, you tell him I said hello." She looked up and saw the smile on his face. Obviously, he'd heard. He stood up and walked past her with his cell phone in hand. He whispered Trina and Dick and she nodded in response, upset that Mac was taking away from their time.

"Anyway girl, Wallace just called me, that's why I'm calling. He said he has his ticket. He'll be home Thursday night." Great, they were all just flocking in early.

"Great." She said slightly unenthusiastically. She was dying to see Wallace, but it meant her time with Logan was very limited.

"Ok, well, I'll see you tomorrow."

"No problem Mac. Oh hey, watch out for Jamie. He's been asking about you."

"Argh, that guy just doesn't get a hint does he?"

"Guess not."

"Did you tell him I'd gotten a job and relocated?"

"Yes, but it seems he thinks you're coming back for him."

"He better keep dreaming. I'm not going to be anybody's sugar momma. Ok babe, I have to run. I'll call you when I'm in Newport tomorrow."

"Ok Mac, bye." She smiled and hung up the phone, actually glad that she'd spoken to her. It'd been almost a week since she'd called, mostly because she was busy, but she had missed the sound of her voice.

She walked into the living room and stopped short when she heard the angry whisper.

"I know I said I was only staying a few days, but the opening is this weekend, and I told you I was going to be here for it. I decided to come early. Just stay, because there is no point in flying back and forth."

She stood frozen in place, knowing that he wasn't talking to Dick or Trina in that tone.

"No Crissy, I didn't think it was necessary. I told you I had some things to take care of. Look, I'll call you if anything. You've got your family, you won't be alone." She opened her eyes wide as she understood the conversation. She was upset because she didn't want to spend the holidays alone. Because her fiancé had flown across the country to some friend of his she'd never met, and was staying for the week to handle some mysterious situation. She had to admit, even she would have been upset.

"Goodbye." He hung up the phone and sighed loudly as she cleared her throat to announce her presence.

"Hey. How are Dick and Trina?" She smiled, trying not to let on that she'd heard his conversation.

"They're fine. They'll be here on Thursday night."

"Great. So most of us will be here and we can just have a nice dinner together before the official opening."

"Yea."

"Logan?" She looked at him quizzically and he looked up, his eyes still serious. "You wanted to say something earlier?"

"Yea, let's go sledding."

***

He held his breath as they went flying down the hill on the plastic sled, and felt the tingle in his stomach from the drop.

"WOAH!" Veronica screamed as she closed her eyes, and held on tightly to his arms. He sat behind her and smiled, trying to be the strong one. He wrapped his arms around her tighter, and put his chin in the crease of her neck.

"Close your eyes."

"What?"

"Close your eyes, it feels like you're flying." She looked back for a moment, their faces touching and he felt his cheeks heat up at her proximity. She smiled and turned back around as she closed her eyes. They kept falling and finally with a few bumps landed, and toppled over onto each other.

They laughed hearty heavy laughs that kept them on the ground. He lay on the snow, and began to calm his laughter as he felt her head upon his stomach. He looked down, seeing the knitted hat on her head, the little chunks of hair peeking out around her neck. Her cheeks were red from the piercing wind and lips were sparkling with chapstick.

"That was so great." He heard her whisper. He smiled, a sense of satisfaction running through him.

They finally sat up and just remained on the floor for a few minutes.

"Logan, why did you never tell me about Christine?" The question caught him off guard as his smile faded. He focused his eyes on her face.

"I did tell you about her. I told you that I was interested in her, and that we were seeing each other."

"You said you guys had a sort of relationship, you didn't ever say you'd fallen in love and were ready to get married." He sat in silence. She was right. He never had said that.

"It's complicated."

"How complicated?"

"Look, Ronnie… we kind of got involved in this relationship which we both thought could be something bigger. I was pretty much sold that I could be with her."

"But…."

"There was something else."

"Something else?"

"Someone else."

"I don't think I understand." He stood up finally and began to gather the sled. He didn't quite know what he was saying. He felt his mind begin to swirl. He cursed himself for not having the guts to just come out and say what he was thinking.

"Let's go back up." He began the trek back up the hill. She followed closely, obviously frustrated.

"You're changing the subject."

"I just wanted to go for another ride."

"Logan."

"What? What Veronica? What do you want me to tell you?" They stopped finally as they reached the top of the hill. He turned abruptly to face her. They stood there for a few moments, the cold air between them, and their eyes glaring into each others challengingly.

"I want you to tell me what is going on. What are you feeling? Why does this whole situation seem so… weird?"

"I don't know if I really want to tell you." Her eyes opened as her nostrils flared in exasperation. He could tell she was reaching her wit's end.

"What? Since when can you not tell me something? Even though I didn't want to, I told you about Antonio, now you tell me what's going on. This is obviously bothering you Logan, I just want to be able to help you."

"What I'm going to say might change everything." He spit out before he could think, and then tightened his jaw, wanting to bite his tongue off for opening his big mouth. Her face softened as she looked at him again, something different in her eyes. Was it fear?

"What is it? Just… say it." She stood before him, her feet firmly planted, her jaw set. He looked into her eyes, the eyes he had come to trust, and admire. He knew if he didn't say it now. He'd never say it.

"I think I'm in love with you Roonie." She froze, her expression blank as he awaited some sort of answer or acknowledgement. When he received none, he put down the sled and sighed. He didn't know what else to do. He'd said it. It was out. Now it was up to her to make the next move. He sat on the sled and let himself fall, leaving her shocked and silent atop the hill.