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We're in This LoVe Together

Logan dropped his arm to his side in exasperation as he turned to Veronica. "This is ridiculous," he said through clenched teeth.

Veronica slid off the bar stool where she was seated, doing her best to stay out of Logan's way and not critique his sub-standard 'sweeping' skills. "You have to learn to do it. Dad gets out of the hospital next week and I'll be going home. You need to know how the equipment works."

"I'm playing hide and seek with an electronic listening device, Veronica!" Logan's voice becoming louder in direct proportion to his growing annoyance. "This is ridiculous!" he reiterated.

Logan actually paid attention through the quick tutorial Veronica gave him on the equipment she purchased at Lawson's. And when she asked him to hide the bug in the suite so she could show him how the detector worked in a real-life situation, there were no complaints. But now it was his turn, and he was frustrated. The device was sensitive and Logan was rushing. The lights surged, pointing to the location of the bug, but by the time it happened, he'd moved, so he was constantly going in the wrong direction. He'd been running around in circles for the past twenty minutes, becoming more and more agitated, which secretly Veronica thought was cute. She bit her bottom lip in an attempt to mask her smile, but Logan's eyes narrowed and she knew she'd been caught. She cleared her throat, and tried once again to tell him what he was doing wrong. "You're moving too fast and you're not paying attention." She raised his arm, swinging it back and forth like he'd been doing. "You're not going to find it doing this." She slowed her movements. "This will get you better results."

Logan sighed, dropping his arm to his side once again. "You said the minute I turned on the stupid thing I'd know if there was a bug in here. Why do I have to know how to find it? If it beeps, I'll call you or your dad or Burrows, and that will be the end of it."

He had a valid point; Veronica knew that. The detector covered a wide enough range to encompass the entire suite, and when turned on, it would immediately alert him to the presence of a bug. But Veronica also knew Logan. Yes, if he found something he would call Burrows, but there would be lag time between the phone call and when the police arrived, and there was no way Logan would wait patiently. He'd get antsy and he'd want to find the bug himself. They were very much alike in that way. "Logan, trust me. Right now it's a game, but if it happens for real, you're going to be angry, and you're going to want to know exactly where that bug is. It'll be an invasion of your privacy and you won't be able to stand it." She looked up at him with imploring eyes. "Please do this. For me?"

Logan shook his head, muttering to himself about being manipulated by a midget blonde and her big blue eyes, but he started walking around the suite again. This time he paid close attention to the detector in his hand and mimicked Veronica's slower movements. He was rewarded for his efforts when the line of lights on the device surged from red to amber and the intermittent beeping picked up speed. As he passed his bedroom door, the lights surged higher, so he walked into the room. As he stepped closer to his bed, the lights went from amber to green. By the time he was at the head of the bed, the line of lights was solid and the beeping had turned into a constant high-pitched wail. He checked under the mattress, around his pillow, the headboard and the nightstand. Finally, he spotted the bug attached to the underside of the lampshade. He turned to see Veronica leaning against the doorframe. "Found it," he said proudly as he held it up for her inspection.

Veronica enthusiastically clapped her hands and smiled broadly. "I told you it wasn't difficult." Logan rolled his eyes as he dropped the detector and the bug on the nightstand. She stepped closer, wagging her finger at him. "You need to learn some patience."

Logan pulled her to him, loosely wrapping his arms around her waist. "Says the most impatient person I've ever met." He nuzzled her neck. "I found the damn thing, now where's my reward?"

Veronica hands were trapped between his body and hers, resting on his chest, but Logan wasn't expecting the shove, nor the strength she put behind it. He stumbled backwards, falling onto the bed and taking Veronica with him. She pressed her lower body into his, placing delicate kisses along the underside of his jaw as she spoke. "Reward? You were expecting a reward? What about pride in a job well done? Personal satisfaction? Shouldn't that be reward enough?" When she reached his earlobe, she gave a gentle tug. Logan moaned her name, and the next second, Veronica was under him instead of on top of him, but she didn't care. She was exactly were she wanted to be.

--- VVV

After dinner, they visited the hotel gym, where Logan took out the frustrations of the day on the heavy bag once again. His opinion of Aaron had never been high, and when he found out the man killed Lilly, he didn't think it could get any lower, but today's news only proved him wrong. The extra-marital affairs Logan knew about, and his mother had deluded herself too long in ignoring, had always been with younger women. Models, would-be actresses - the catering staff. Women in their twenties were Aaron's lay of choice. And that was bad enough, but the guy was fifty-four years old, sleeping with girls who barely knew how to drive! The more Logan thought about it, the more grossed out he became, and then the angrier he got.

Veronica sat against the wall opposite him, a book lying in her lap. She read, acting completely oblivious to the litany of curse words and accusations that spewed from Logan's mouth, and he was grateful. He didn't need to see her worried expression or deal with her trying to comfort him as he took out his aggression. When he was exhausted, but calm, then he'd appreciate her arms wrapped him. Her head lying on his chest. The way she ran her fingers through his hair as she whispered reassuring words in his ear. But right now, he just wanted to let the rage take over, to let it bubble up and spill out of him.

She trusted him - god only knew why - and her dad trusted her opinion of him, and both of them were willing to stick with him through the horror his life had become. It was unsettling to Logan to realize he needed them. It had been so long since he'd let himself need anyone. He missed his mother terribly, but he'd stopped needing her about the same time it dawned on him she knew Aaron beat him and she wasn't going to do anything to stop it. He couldn't rely on Trina for any type of emotional support, never could. She was too wrapped up in herself. And where once he might have leaned on Duncan, or at least used his best friend as a temporary escape from his problems, he knew those days were long gone. They were gone the minute Lilly was killed and Duncan turned into a shell of the person he used to be.

Oh, Dick was around, and Logan appreciated him, but he couldn't really talk to Dick. Not about the important stuff. And as Dick had pointed out on the phone a few days earlier, popularity and friendship within the '09er crowd was fleeting. His other so-called friends wouldn't be any help to him. For all his family's money, and his good looks and personality, Logan was very much alone.

Except for Veronica and Keith. And maybe Wallace, if Logan played his cards right. The boy's friendship with Veronica proved he was a stand-up guy who didn't desert his friends when they needed him, and didn't listen to other people's opinions. Not something Logan was used to, but something he definitely admired. He knew Wallace was only putting up with him because Veronica asked, but he thought the other night had turned out rather well. Wallace didn't abandon him to Dick's company and go searching for the girls. The guys had good time together, laughing and joking and playing around. Logan could see potential there.

And he liked Mac too. At least the little bit he'd seen of her. She'd been awfully quiet when she first arrived at the suite. It was obvious she was shy and introverted, not used to dealing with new people or new situations. But the way she'd stood up to him about Veronica's drunk state, even threatened him if he took advantage of her friend, proved there was more to Mac than she let on. And he found himself wanted to know what that more was.

He hoped he'd get the chance to find out. He hoped when the news broke about what the DA had found, Veronica's friends didn't start steering her away from him. Didn't suggest she was getting involved way too deep in problems that had nothing to do with her. Didn't point out the fact her boyfriend was raised by a murdering, abusive, womanizing pedophile. Didn't remind her of the verbal abuse he'd heaped on her for over a year. Didn't flat-out tell her being with Logan was a decision she'd soon regret.

--- VVV

An hour after going to bed, Veronica was still awake. It wasn't the nightmares keeping her that way, not this time. She'd final let herself think about what she'd done the night before. What she'd said. How she'd acted. The fact she'd partial revealed what happened to her at Shelley's party, and who she'd revealed it to. That morning, she was thankful Logan hadn't brought up the incident, and then she'd gotten caught up in the events of the day, too involved to think about the consequences of her drunk tirade. But now guilt and trepidation settled in the pit of her stomach. "I shouldn't have slapped Dick," she whispered quietly into the darkened room. She turned in Logan's arms, her eyes meeting his across the pillow. "What did you... tell him?"

Of course Logan wasn't asleep. He'd been waiting for Veronica to drift off before he did the same. He'd wondered if she'd bring up what happened with Dick, thinking maybe she'd relegate it to the vast number of topics that were off limits for discussion. His hand was on her waist and he gently prodded her closer to him. She curled up against him, burying her head in his shoulder. He kept his tone soothing, his voice low. "I told him about the GHB. I told him Beaver didn't... touch you. I told him you don't remember much about that night." It was a delicate subject, ripe with land mines, and he knew he'd step on a few before they were finished. "He was worried about you and he was sorry for happened. He's not stupid, Ronnie. Eventually, he's going to ask more questions."

"I know," she said honestly. She fisted her hand around the material on Logan's chest. "I screwed up, but I couldn't help it. I guess... I been wanting to... to confront him for weeks and I..." Veronica could hear the quiver in her own voice. "God, Logan, what have I done?"

Logan forced her to look up at him. "Don't you dare cry on me," he said teasingly. Veronica smiled weakly and he kissed the tip of her nose. "You had ever right to confront him. When you thought I was involved, you let into me. Doing it drunk might not have been the best idea, but it happened, and we'll deal with it." His eyes searched hers and his expression grew serious. "But, Ronnie, you've got to tell me what you want to do. How you feel about it. I did some terrible, stupid things that night too, but you forgave me. I'm getting the distinct impression you don't want to forgive Dick."

Veronica sat up to lean against the headboard, Logan following her. She played with the edge of the duvet while he waited patiently for her to gather her thoughts. When she finally spoke, each word was slow and deliberate. "Giving Duncan GHB was wrong, but it was perfect Logan logic and I understand it. And there's no way you could have anticipated what would happen, so you get a pass for that. The body shots were a horrible thing to do." She saw Logan wince out of the corner of her eye. "And if you ever even think about doing something like that again, to me or anyone else, I'll taser you, then pay Weevil and the PCHers to finish what the started the other night. No one deserves to be treated like that, I don't care how mad you are." Finally, she turned to look at him. "But I know you. You can be an absolute prick, but you wouldn't let anyone physically hurt me or any women. You trade insults with Trina and you'd love to see her publicly embarrassed, but you knew her boyfriend was hitting her and you had to stop it. Lilly," Veronica laughed nervously, "Lilly treated you like shit, but you never got physical with her. Ever. You yelled and screamed and punched a wall once, but you never got close to attacking her. And if I had remembered that - any of that - I couldn't have accused you of killing her."

Logan saw the regret in her eyes. He cupped the side of her face with his hand. "Veronica..."

She waved away his concern. It wasn't part of the current conversation. "But Dick... Dick knew what was going to happen in that room, and he encouraged it. I was barely conscious and he gave me to his little brother like a gift. I know he thought I was drunk and acting like a slut, which from what I've heard, I probably was, but it doesn't excuse what he did. It's a lot more difficult to forgive."

All of Logan's guilt came rushing forward and his hand dropped from her face. If Dick had treated her like a thing, Logan was the one to blame for it. "I set the pattern. I made it acceptable for him to treat you like that." Veronica reached for him, but Logan pulled away. He slipped out of bed, started pacing the room. For the first time, he saw all the ways he was connected to what happened. "It's my fault, Veronica. It all leads back to me. If I hadn't treated you like crap, no one else would have dared. And I saw how wasted you were. I can count on one hand the number of times you've been drunk. I should have known something was wrong. Instead I gave Duncan crap about rescuing you, and then I put GHB in his drink to loosen him up!" He ran a shaky hand through his hair. "It was my idea to buy the drugs in Mexico. My idea to bring them to the party. Dick may have put you in that room, but I'm the one responsible for what happened."

"That's enough," Veronica said with authority. Sex between her and Duncan had been consensual, and although nothing that night happened in the manner which she would have wanted it, she wouldn't stand by and let Logan torture himself. It wasn't productive and it wouldn't change a damn thing. "You want to start playing the blame game, we'll start with me." Logan stopped his pacing to stare at her in disbelief. "I shouldn't have been at Shelley's to begin with. I knew I wasn't wanted and I went anyway. I shouldn't have drunk from a random glass passed to me at a party. I know better than that."

Logan vigorously shook his head. "No! No, you did nothing wrong!"

"I'm not saying I did anything wrong, but I didn't do anything smart either." Veronica crawled to the edge of the bed until she was kneeling in front of him. Logan tried to back away, but she took his hands in hers before he could move. "If I had been raped, this conversations would be different. I'd be mad as hell at everyone, including you, and I'd want vengeance. Manipulating someone whose judgment is so obviously impaired is unconscionable! Even if it was alcohol and not drugs. Even if I'd willingly gotten myself that plastered, no one had the right to take advantage of me!" She took a few deep breaths, letting her anger subside before she continued. "But I wasn't raped, so I'm doing my best to let it all go. I'm trying to focus on what actually happened and not the possible outcomes. Yes, I'm still angry. I have ever right to be. And it's going to take time for me to work through those emotions. But right now, there is one thing I'm sure of." She looked up from their joined hands, her gaze focusing on Logan. "No one, including me, made a good decision that night."

Logan was more than prepared to refute that statement, but the determination in Veronica's eyes gave him pause. For whatever reason, she was choosing to forgive him. He could argue his guilt until he turned blue, and it wouldn't make a difference. She'd already made up her mind. But he had to admit, he was more confused than ever. "If that's true - and I happen to think it's bullshit, but I'm letting it go for the moment. If that's true, then why are you so fixated on Dick?"

"Because he... because he's so..." A growl escaped from Veronica's throat as her anger came back full force. "Because he's so disinterested in anything that happens to anyone else! You regret what you did. Duncan was mortified. Even Beaver looked ashamed when I talked to him. But Dick? Dick laughed it off. He told me what a drunken slut I was. He said I came on to him, on to everybody." She knew she was yelling and she took another deep breath to calm herself again. "You say he's worried about me, but I don't believe you. And I don't believe he's sorry either. If he's upset, it's because you're upset. It has nothing to do with me. And nothing to do with what he did. That's why I'm still so damn mad at him!" She flopped back down on the bed, releasing Logan's hands. "I swear to god, him and Trina would make the perfect couple."

Dick and Trina dating? Logan suppressed both the laugh and the shudder that thought produced. He sat down on the bed, placed his hand on Veronica's knee. "I know I'm going to get in trouble for defending Dick. Not what he did that night," he said before she went off on him, "but how he reacted to it when you confronted him." He waited for Veronica to say something, but she remained quiet. "I know I can be a complete jackass, and you've experienced the full force of it more than once. But you know most of it is a front. Well, Dick has his front too. He's not as disinterested as you think. He might act like an idiot and yeah, sometimes you have to hit him over the head with things, but eventually he does get it. And last night, he finally got it. He's sorry, Ronnie. You might not believe it, but he is." Veronica's silence stretched on. Logan studied her, tried to decipher the emotions that passed through her eyes as her brain worked to process what he said.

Veronica studied Logan too. She could tell he believed what he was saying, and she had to admit there was a ring of truth to it. She'd known Dick for years. Longer than she'd known Logan. She'd been going to school with him since first grade. And two years ago it might have been easy to accept Logan's explanation for Dick's behavior. But whatever she thought she knew about a lot of people she at one time considered her friends, didn't hold true anymore. Not after Lilly's death. Not after her father was kicked out of office. Not after the year of hell she'd endured. "I wish I could believe you, but I don't trust him."

Logan laid down next to her, both their feet dangling off the end of the bed. "I'm not asking you to trust him. Trust is earned; I understand that. And I'm not asking you to forgive him either. But... if he tries to apologize, could you at least notice it? Maybe?"

Veronica turned on her side so she was facing him. "Don't dismiss it out of hand. Is that what you're asking?" Logan slowly nodded. Veronica sighed loudly. "I'll do my best, but I'm not promising anything."

Logan kissed the tip of her nose. "Thanks, sugarpuss." He grabbed her hand and hauled her up with him to the top of the bed. "And now, I think it's time we get some sleep. Big day tomorrow." Veronica groaned as her head hit the pillow. Logan pulled the covers over them, settled down behind her. "I know you want to keep me all to yourself, but you have to learn to share." Veronica reached behind her to smack him on the head.

--- VVV

Logan glanced over for what had to be the hundredth time to see Veronica still tapping her fingers against her thigh. He directed his attention back to the road. "Why are you nervous? Your dad didn't kill anyone."

They'd made an early morning detour to the hospital before heading to school, where Keith informed both kids about his expectations for the day. Logan had nodded his head and agreed, and Veronica was sure he had the best of intentions, but she knew - she just knew - before the day was over, there was going to be a fight. "Don't hit anyone. I don't care what they say, you can't hit anyone."

Logan chuckled as he pulled into the Neptune High parking lot, almost running over a group of reporters and paparazzi situated off campus, and the police stationed to keep them off school grounds. "I already got this speech from Keith."

"Yes, but I'm not sure you actually heard him." Veronica looked around, taking note of the stares Logan's XTerra was receiving. Oh good, there was pointing too. And she was sure whispers. She reached over and gave Logan's free hand a reassuring squeeze, more for her own benefit than his. He was acting so calm, and that scared her. He spent his entire life in the public eye, and after his mom died, he experienced his share of ridicule, but this was different. She knew from personal experience that '09er loyalty turned on a dime. If he thought his friends would welcome him with open arms, she was positive he was in for a rude awakening.

Dick told Logan to expect an icy reception from the '09ers, so he was prepared. The best way to survive was to act like nothing was wrong. Any change in his normal attitude would only encourage his friends to attack. He'd take the comments thrown at him, throw some of his own back. He'd ignore the people freezing him out and concentrate on whoever was still talking to him. Really, it wasn't that different from any other day. His only real concern was Duncan, and he'd just have to wait to see how that would play out.

That didn't mean it would be easy. Logan knew the stakes were high, knew better than Veronica or her dad. He had a private chat with Cliff about money and custody and a few other things. Once the new charges were laid against him, the possibility of Aaron getting bail would be close to nil. Logan was seventeen and if he was lucky, Trina would be made his temporary guardian. If she wasn't, they'd talked about the possibility of emancipation. That would at least give him access to the inheritance his mother had left him until his trust fund kicked in. His parents had set up an account for Logan, more of a tax shelter than anything else. Logan had done some on-line research, had called Aaron's accountant. Aaron might be able to stop new funds from going into the account, but he couldn't take money out of it. What was there would be Logan's once he turned eighteen. Same for his college fund. It wasn't the millions he was used to, but it was a tidy sum and Logan could make it last.

But Cliff was adamant that Logan's behavior had to change. If Social Services decided to take more than a passing interest in him, every stupid thing he did in the past would come into question. And any new stupid things he did would carry more weight. No ditching school. No fights. No drunken arrests. No arrests period. He had to clean up his act. "Ronnie, it's going to be fine. Everything's going to be fine." She shot him a disbelieving look. "Okay, it's going to be shit, but we're going to get through it together. Stick by me until class starts. I'll see you at lunch and in journalism, and then we'll go back to the hospital after school. And I promise not to let some loud-mouth jerk goad me into kicking his ass."

Veronica ground her teeth together in frustration, but instead of commenting, she pointed. "There's Wallace. He's saving us a spot up front."

Wallace moved the orange parking cone so Logan could pull-in. Where the cone came from Logan wasn't sure. He shut off the engine, then turned to Veronica. "Wait here." He jumped out of the car, ran around to the other side, and opened her door. He held out his hand. "M' lady."

Veronica rolled her eyes, but a slight blush crept up her cheeks. "You're such a ham," she said as she let Logan help her out of the SUV. Instead of releasing her hand when her feet touched the ground, he laced his fingers with hers. With her free hand, Veronica settled the strap of her messenger bag on her shoulder. Before she could once more reiterate the 'no hitting' rule, they were surrounded by people. Dick and Beav came up on their right, Mac, Wallace and Meg on their left. Veronica smiled brightly. "Look, Logan, our own personal welcoming committee!"

Veronica felt a hand clasp around her shoulder. She tensed for second until she heard Weevil's voice behind her. "We thought you could, ah, use a little company."

She glanced at him. "Were ya'll worried about little old me?" she asked as she batted her eyelashes. Then she felt Logan's hand slip from hers. She turned quickly to see him taking a few steps away from the group, Dick's arm slung around his shoulder. She frowned, but focused back on her friends. "Seriously guys, what's going on?"

Wallace leaned back against the side of the SUV, attempting to appear casual, but his voice was filled with concern. "Your dad called Clemmons yesterday to let him know the two of you were coming back. Somehow, the entire school found out. And the reporters have been camped out since the story broke. I didn't want you getting ambushed in the parking lot. Meg, Mac and me, we thought we should walk in with you guys."

"Not that you can't take of yourself," Mac added quickly, knowing how annoyed Veronica got when the men in her life tried to protect her without asking first. "But we thought you'd like to see a few friendly faces before facing the firing squad."

Meg nodded in approval. "After all, you'd be here for us if we needed you." Meg's sunny disposition was firmly back in place, with no trace of the crying girl from two days ago. She'd accepted what happened, was grateful for Veronica's continued friendship, and wanted to support her friend any way she could.

It was Beaver's turn to step forward, his hands shoved into the pockets of his cargo pants, not completely comfortable that his brother had left him alone with people he barely knew. "When Dick and I got here, Logan's locker was covered with tabloid pictures. We took them down, and Casey's watching to make sure no more are put up, but Dick wanted to be out here, in case anything else happened."

Veronica took it all in, the words she heard, the distant flashes from the paparazzo's cameras, the other students hovering a little closer than necessary, obviously dying to catch a snippet of conversation. It was pretty much what she'd expected, but that didn't mean she had to like it. She cocked her head towards Weevil. "And you? What's your excuse?"

The biker smiled at her slyly. "Just settling my debts, V. I think this makes us about even again." Then the smile fell and he took a step closer, lowering his voice. "My guys are gonna be watching out today. Something happens and none of us are around, you go to one of them. You'll be safe."

Weevil's concern shook Veronica more than the others. If he was worried enough to get his gang involved... What didn't she know that he did? But before she could ask, Logan and Dick rejoined them, and the hard look in Logan's eyes captured her full attention. He walked like he didn't have a care in the world, all loose limbs and wide, snarky smile. But his eyes... his eyes told an entirely different story. Whatever Dick had said to him, and she was sure it was about more than pictures on his locker, it had upset him. She knew he wouldn't talk to her in front of the others, so she pushed her questions aside. "We need to drop by the office before class," she reminded him, as she linked hands with him again.

Logan's first instinct was to put Veronica back in the car and drive as far away from Neptune as possible. It seemed not even Burrows or the DA could keep a lid on the Aaron Echoll's case. Dick told him rumors were already circulating that more tapes were discovered. No one mentioned under-aged girls yet, but Logan knew it wouldn't be long. The only good information Dick passed along was that Duncan wasn't in school. Celeste and Jake were keeping him out for the rest of the week. "Then we should get going."

The group proceeded through the parking lot, Dick and Beav going first, the look on Dick's face daring anyone to approach. Wallace, Mac and Meg flanked the blonde couple with Weevil bringing up the rear. Veronica would have made a sarcastic comment about the formation, if they gesture wasn't so sweet. As they entered the school, all talk in the halls stopped, and for thirty seconds it was eerily quiet before the buzz of gossip began. Veronica glanced up at Logan to see his reaction. He smiled down at her, his grasp on her hand tightening. She smiled back, still wishing she knew what Dick had said to him. Their friends made idle conversation around them. And for a moment, Veronica let herself believe it would be okay.

And then the insults started.

"Hey, Echolls! This girlfriend doing your dad too?"

"No way he didn't know. He probably got off watching them together."

"Did your mom really killer herself or did your dad off her?"

"I heard it was a three-some. Lilly, Echolls, and his dad."

"No way, man. Lilly, his dad, and his mom! She was hot!"

"Now he's so hard up for action, he's screwing Mars. Moved from one slut to another."

"If I was her, I'd be worried. He's gotta be just like his old man."

Logan cringed. 'Just like his old man.' The only accusation that actually struck a cord. His hand bawled into a fist, his rage boiling under the surface, clawing to break free. 'Just like his old man.' Dick looked back at him, waiting for the signal to start shoving bodies into lockers. 'Just like his old man.' Logan promised Keith; he promised Veronica. Cliff warned him off the consequences. 'Just like his old man.' He wanted to hit someone. Needed to hit someone. Needed to so something to release the anger inside before he exploded!

Suddenly, he stopped. Mac, Wallace and Meg took a one step, then halted. Dick grabbed his brother's arm to stop his progress. Weevil bumped into them. Everyone held their breath to see what would happen next.

Logan turned to Veronica, the apology already in his eyes. "I'm sorry, but I need to do this."

"Wha-" was all she got out before his mouth descended on hers. She was surprised at first, but it only took her seconds to respond. She dropped the messenger bag from her arm and fisted her hands in his hair, drawing him closer. Logan grasped her hips and pulled her tight against his body. He dipped his tongue into her mouth and she welcomed it. Veronica heard the catcalls, comments and clapping in the distance. Weevil specifically drawing out the word 'daaaaamn' in half-compliment, half-astonishment. But she ignored it all. Whatever the reason Logan decided to 'grope' her in public, Veronica understood. Whether he needed to lay claim to her, or he needed reassurance, or he needed to block out the world around them, she wouldn't fight him. It was going to be a long day, and a little PDA might help both of them get through it.

When Logan finally pulled back, he rested his forehead against hers, took several deep breaths of needed air. "I just remembered I didn't kiss you this morning." he whispered so only she could hear, his hands still splayed possessively across her back, all the anger drained from his body.

Veronica's hands slipped to his shoulders, her nails digging in, letting him know she was affected as he was. "You know, I was feeling a little neglected." Logan smiled down at her, the mischief back in his eyes, and she relaxed. She slid away from him, turning to Meg who had recovered her messenger bag from the floor. "Thank you," she said happily as she slung it back on her arm.

Logan's actions had temporarily stunned the crowd. There was still talk, but the insults had stopped, reverting back to whispered gossip. People had heard that Logan and Veronica were together, but no one expected the way he publicly and officially announced it.

Wallace looked between the two of them, shaking his head, resigned to the fact that Logan Echolls wasn't going away anytime soon. His best friend just let the guy make a spectacle of her and she was smiling. "You two should come with some kind of a rating. I know I'm not old enough to see what you just did." It was as bad as catching their parents making-out, coming in a close second on the creep-o-meter.

Mac arched her eyebrow, tapped one finger on her chin, looking thoughtful. "It was quite a show. You should consider charging next time."

"Hell yeah! I'd pay to see it." Dick winked at Veronica, and she did her best not to smack the lecherous smirk off his face.

"Well, I thought it was sweet," Meg scoffed at all them. "It nice to see a guy who's willing to show affection in public."

"Affection? Is that what you call it?" Weevil gave Veronica a look similar to Dick's. "Because to me it looked more like -"

"Don't finish that sentence," Veronica threatened. She smoothed her hair back into place. Ran a finger along her lower lip to check for lipstick smudges. "If everyone is finished with their critique, I'd like to get my books out of my locker."

Logan dropped a quick kiss on the top of her head, before dragging her the rest of the way down the hall.

---TBC

One side note: I think what Dick did was wrong. Wrong! Wrong! Wrong! And I hope I effectively communicated that through Veronica. I am in no way endorsing what he did, nor did I think he should get away with it with only a slap on the wrist. NO ONE SHOULD EVER TAKE ADVANTAGE OF A DRUNK GIRL!! But I like the character and I have plans for him, so I had to create a plausible way for Veronica to at least tolerate him. I also believe that the way that night was portrayed on the show, there were several people who could have stepped in to stop events from unfolding the way they did. As I wrote, everyone made bad decisions. And although I'm inclined not to give spoilage about this story, I will say in my universe, Veronica was not raped by Beaver. She had sex with Duncan and no one else. The Cassidy story line always creeped me out and I'm not going there.