Okay, I know I promised you regular updates until the end but I have two really good, semi-lame excuses. I am a writing major in college, therefore my final projects took over my life. Had I been able to write for pleasure, this would have been top of my list but I couldn't so it wasn't. Then, come summer break, I started writing a lot. Got up to chapter 23 (which also means there's going to be more than 25 to finish off this story). Was getting ready to start updating again with the surplus of chapters and then my hard drive decided to die on me. Epic fail. Luckily I had backed up chapters 19 and 20 or else I probably would have jumped out a window. I shed a tear for my lost chapter because I was really proud of them. But I starting typing them all over again and finally got up the courage to show my face again.

So with no more bad news for you all, I promise to review at least once a week. Here's the next chapter. Kind of filler-y but definitely needed to get to the next part of the story. I hope these next chapters were worth the wait!

As our lives seemed to be ending in slow motion, all carefully planned out, the time was speeding by. The week was ending before we knew it and in less than twenty-four hours, Veronica Mars and Logan Echolls would be no more.

The hardest part was saying goodbye, without really saying goodbye. The biggest problem was that there was no closure and that was about the only thing I really needed to move on with life.

We had done my dad first, getting the hardest, in retrospect, out of the way first. He was so happy we had decided to let him cook us dinner. Just as we had done in the past, Dad danced around the kitchen with the perfect taco music on. Though the trio had changed, the tradition lived on. It was something I needed to remember to pass onto my own daughter.

As my dad hummed and danced with the aroma of spicy beef and tortilla shells, I had to fight back the tears. Discreetly, I pulled out my camera, immortalizing the moment for my memory. This would be the picture I showed the baby when she asked where her grandfather was.

"Dad," I licked salsa from my lips, "You didn't have to go through all this trouble."

Chewing his own mouthful of food he waved me off, "Nonsense, Veronica. I feel like I haven't seen you in forever. I can't help it if food's the only way to your heart."

I forced a smile as Logan squeezed my thigh, "Had I known you could cook this well, we would've come over sooner."

I waited for the smart comment back but instead Dad just smiled. He even let out a small chuckle. It would be just my luck that my dad finally accepted Logan as the one for me when my world was caving in on me.

The night came to a close when I yawned loud enough to break the two from their deep discussion about the Padres. I wanted to protest leaving, fighting to savor every last second I had with my dad but I couldn't do anything. I couldn't raise suspicions in his mind. The last thing I needed was my dad figuring out what was going on or worse yet, getting himself involved.

Instead, I held him a second longer, a smidge tighter as we stood in the doorway in the place I regarded as my home. Sure our house pre-Lilly Kane murder was bigger, roomier, and housed a complete family unite, the little apartment provided more love and shelter.

Logan and I were completely silent in the car ride home. I was biting down so hard on my cheeks that I could taste blood. I fiddled with my phone, prolonging the inevitable call to Mac for one last get together. The whole walk from the parking garage to the elevator and into the suite, I mulled over exactly what to say to my second best friend.

And then there was no need for the phone call because my second best friend was sitting on Logan's couch, involved in a heated Need for Speed match with Dick. So much for preparing my speech.

"Mac," I finally said when I caught my breath, "What are you doing here?"

She smiled, not tearing her eyes from the screen, "I'm kicking Dick's ass."

"Dick, what did I tell you about playing against girls?" Logan flopped on the couch watching the cars swerve in and out on the screen, "I'm not always going to be there when you need a shoulder to cry on."

Dick turned to face Logan, dejectedly, "I do not cry."

"I do recall a tear or two the last time I beat you," I reclaimed my spot next to Logan. Back in my comfort zone, things were easier.

I watched as Mac and Dick played another race, Mac, winning yet again. Triumphantly she stuck her tongue out at him and Dick tried his hardest not to crack a smile. But he did, completely losing to her now. I knew that look. I knew the way they were acting. At least they would have each other when we were gone.

"Hey Mac," I took my opportunity to have a moment of girl talk, "I need to talk to you."

Logan gave my hand a quick squeeze and pushed me up from the couch. Grateful for the boost, I led Mac to our bedroom. She eyed me suspiciously as I settled into my side of the bed, cross legged, ready for full on girl talk.

"So…" I smiled, cocking an eyebrow hoping she would get the drift before I had to spell things out for her.

She mimicked my expression, "So…"

She was going to make me say it. Our first, and last, attempt at girl talk was already going downhill, "What's going on you and Mr. Casablancas out there?"

"What are you talking about?" Her voice was steady but her crimson cheeks gave her away.

I shook my head. Had she really forgotten that I'm a private eye? I see all, "Don't try that one with me."

"Try what –"

I cut her off, "You two are spending an awful lot of time together. That can only mean one thing…" Again, her eyebrow cocked, "Bowchicawowow."

"Veronica Mars," She feigned shock and horror, "I'm a one man kind of woman."

"Well I haven't seen Max around lately," I pointed out.

She hesitated, tripping over her words as she formulated a reason, "Well, he doesn't leave his room much. Business is booming."

"School's out for summer," I sang the old summer anthem, "Try again."

She bit her bottom lip, "I don't know. I just needed a change of scenery. I mean, since you're not around and all."

I shook my head vigorously, "Do not blame me for you liking Dick."

She gasped, "I do not like Dick!"

"Do too."

"Do not!"

"Do too!"

"Do not!"

And then I couldn't hold it in any longer. I began laughing so hard at our childish banter that my sides were splitting, I was gasping for air and tears were flowing down my cheeks. This was definitely the best way to bow out of Mac's life.

When I finally got my breathing regulated again I told her, "It's okay if you do like him. He'd be good for you."

"Excuse me?"

"He's not a bad guy. He's a really good guy actually," I remembered the visit to his father in prison, "He's just misunderstood. He needs someone like you in his life."

Mac's mouth suddenly fell open before closing, "It must be your hormones all out of whack. That's the only thing that makes sense."

"It's just," I took a deep breath to keep my lips from quivering, "When the baby's born, I'm not going to be around that much. I just don't want you to be lonely, Q."

She acted as if she was putting it all together, "So, in order to not be lonely, I need to date Dick? Yeah, you've lost it."

"Just," I turned away, "think about it. So I can sleep easier."

"Whatever you say Veronica Mars."

And my mind was put to ease. At least they'd have each other because when we were gone, Mac would feel like she owed it to me to spend time with Dick even if it wasn't a relationship.

We left the confines of the bedroom to join the boys in front of the television just where we left them. The hours passed like minutes as we all took turns driving, shooting or throwing. Mac and I were obviously dominated the competition.

I hadn't noticed I had yawned so audibly that Logan announced it was time to turn in. I had been fighting my heavy eyelids for so long, to savor every last minute but the battle had won and sleep was taking over. I didn't want to sleep but I knew mentally, I needed to prepare for the devastating day ahead of me.

We said goodnight to our friends and I hugged them each a little tighter than usual. Logan shrugged and I could only assume they were looking at me funny.

"Hormones," He offered as an explanation. Thank God that was still working. I choked back my tears until Logan closed the bedroom door behind us. I was Veronica Mars, strong, tough and thick skinned but even the heroine has to fall. I didn't want to, no couldn't, let Logan seem me like this so with a final burst of energy I bolted into the bathroom, slamming the door behind me.

Quickly I turned both the faucet and the shower on before completely succumbing to the cries that were threatening all day. I didn't want to leave. I wished there was another way. I wish we hadn't let Clarence Weidman help us. He had to be wrong. There had to be another way.

"Veronica," Logan tapped lightly on the door, "Come on, babe, let me in."

I slid down against the door so that had he tried to open it, my body weight would provide some sort of resistance.

"Ronnie, come on," His voice was soothing and I heard his belt scratch against the door as he too slid to the floor, "Don't do this. Don't shut me out."

I listened as my chest continued to heave. With every sob and every tear, slowly I was losing Veronica.

"This is hard for me too, you know," He spoke matter-of-factly, "I need you to get through this."

Leave it to Logan to tug on my heart strings. I was being selfish thinking that saying goodbye to my friends and family was harder for me than him. His friends were his family and without them he has no one. Except me.

I inched away from the door, far enough to crack the door open. I peeked through the crack and met Logan's eyes. I knew I had to be a tear stained, snotty mess but still, he reached his hand in and wiped my cheeks off.

"I'm sorry," I finally spoke crawling through the doorway to his side of the room.

He proceeded to wipe my other cheek, "Don't be sorry, just don't shut me out. You're all I got and I'm sorry for you because I'm all you got."

I threw my arms around his neck, holding on for dear life because just having him was not a bad thing, "But you're wrong. I have, we have someone else." I took his hand in mine and laid it on my rounded stomach. Tracing his thumb along the side, he captured my lips in his. Everything in that moment just fit so right that maybe this way was the only way and it would work out for us just fine.

We moved our cuddle session from the floor to the comfort of the bed I had been in far too many times to count. Though at first I was with my first love, it only mattered that I was now there with my last love, my epic love.

"You know," I said sleepily from my cocoon of covers, "Tomorrow we'll be married. I'll be Mrs. Lucas Lester."

With that thought, we both drifted into an uneasy sleep trying to fight off the impending morning.

Just as soon as I closed my eyes, Logan shook me awake. The room was full of sunlight which could only mean one thing. It was official D-day.

It was hard to get ready knowing how the day would end and we both were lagging to get out the door. The first thing we needed to do was go withdraw the down payment of $200,000 for our meeting with the realtor. That task had been relatively easy and painless but as soon as we pulled onto the PCH, things hit a depressing note. With Weidman following closely behind to ward off any of Sorokin's men, we approached our final destination.

The place of the bus crash already claimed the lives of nine people, what were two more to add to the memorial wall because I, Veronica Mars want to be remembered. Not for dating Duncan, or Troy or Logan; not for being friends with Wallace or Meg or the 09ers; no, I wanted my name to be spoken along with the many people I helped, the things I changed, and the lives I've saved for the sake of the Mars name. My dad needed something good to hold onto while I was not here to help him out, pick up the pieces, make everything alright. He would be fine but the thought of him being alone brought me down even lower.

There was no more time to reflect. Once we pulled over, everything happened so fast. A pickup truck screeched to a halt next to us and Weidman hurried us in. After a quick check to make sure we had the money and all of our documents, Jake Kane, donning a goatee and sunglasses sped away just in time to see Logan's Range Rover go up in flames. In a swirl of flames, smoke and sirens we were off to Mexico to complete the next stage of the plan.

It was official. Veronica Mars and Logan Echolls were dead.

So please shoot me a review to let me know you're all still with me. Even if you hate me =]. All the reviews for the last chapter were encouraging as they trickled in so thanks! Keep me motivated!