Finally what you guys have been waiting for, or at least part of it.

Chapter 22

Only for You

2:30 pm Saturday September 8

"The pink will go better with your skin tone," Veronica observes mildly as Mac and the make up artist who just arrived discuss the benefits of pink vs. red lipstick. The hair stylist, who had wrapped her and Mac's hair in wide rollers before moving onto Parker nods in agreement.

"Since when do you speak girl?" Parker asks with a smirk as she sips the tall glass of water she's been clutching all afternoon. She's recently come back from assuring Piz she hadn't been abducted in the middle of the night. When he woke up to find her gone, her cell phone sitting on the bedside table next to him he'd had a slight freak out. Thankfully he'd come to Mac and Veronica's room before taking matters further, Veronica has seen enough cops this week to last her a few lifetimes.

"That's a government secret actually," she winks as runs her fingers over the glass full of clean makeup brushes. There had been dozens of women in the FBI who could make magic with those things. They had taught her how to paint a smile on her face. How to dress and walk and talk and pretend until she could become another person with just the tools in her closet and purse. It had all seemed so simple then, so utterly clinical. She lived for the ending, the closed cases and the solved mysteries. She had never really learned any other way.

There's a soft knock at the door and Veronica, the only one not getting primped, shakes out of her daze and rises to answer it. Mr. Mackenzie looks older then Veronica's ever seen him. Mac's Dad is graying around the temples, his fingers worrying the fabric of his tie. He is such a sweet man, and the look in his eyes reminds Veronica so clearly of one she's seen before. "Hey Mr. Mackenzie," Veronica smiles as she motions him inside the room, "What's up?"

Mac turns as soon as she hears her father's voice. He wasn't in the room when she'd spoken to her mother, but he must have heard by now. "Sorry to bother you girls," Mac's father begins, "but can I have the room for I second? I need to speak to my daughter."

Parker, whose hair is only half finished starts to argue, "Actually sir-"

"Yes," Veronica interrupts, her tone and the look she shoots Parker leaving no room for further comment, "yes we'll be right outside." The make up artist and hair stylist go to grab some other supplies out of their van while Veronica and Parker wait in the hallway. As soon as the two of them are alone Veronica rolls her eyes at her friend, "Jesus Christ Parker, can't you tell?"

"Tell what?" Parker asks, fingers running delicately over her fresh manicure.

"It's the father daughter moment," Veronica explains, "It's the my baby's a grownup, and in a few hours some other guy's going to matter more to her then I do. It's the look."

"How do you know that?" Parker squints, both of them know that Veronica didn't get anywhere near her own wedding day.

Veronica shakes her head looking up at the ceiling as she remembers, "Mine didn't happen a few hours before, more like a few months."

"Veronica calm down," Logan whispers as she gulps down the last of her wine. She's been doing her best Logan impression throughout the beginning of dinner. She hasn't stopped fidgeting, running her finger through her hair, twisting her napkin in her lap, and drinking alcohol like it's water.

"Me?" Veronica looks at him with wide, innocent eyes, "I'm fine. I am the definition of cool, calm, and collected right now." She gestures to herself and almost knocks her silverware off the table.

"Tell that to my knee," Logan grins, as he peels her fingers off him one by one. She's also been touching him nonstop, his hand, his arm, his knee. She'd told him after his first movie premiere that his nervous energy was contagious, and now he knows exactly what she means. It's taking everything he has to remain the calm one in this situation. He knows that him stressing out will only make her worse, but it's hard when she's practically vibrating in the seat next to him.

"Sorry," she apologizes, balling her numb hand into a fist and then stretching out her fingers. She glances at him guiltily, a smile she hopes is comforting pulling at her features, "It's gonna be fine."

"I know," Logan replies evenly, giving her a genuinely comforting smile and wrapping his arm around her shoulders. Veronica's not sure, she really isn't. There are many areas of life that Logan knows more about, none of which have anything to do with fathers and daughters. The dynamic he was raised in was so flawed it hurts her heart to think about it. His father wasn't his confidant, Aaron Echolls had never made Logan feel safe or like he was proud of him. Logan was worried about physical violence, so he has absolutely no idea that it would only take a look to devastate her. Keith Mars, the Sheriff of Neptune's daughter marrying the kid who'd staged bum fights, taken a baseball bat to a cop car, and been arrested for murder before he was even legal. That is not the man she knows, but unfortunately it's what the world will see.

"Sorry about that," Keith apologizes as he returns to their table. "Alicia couldn't find a wrench."

"A wrench?" Veronica asks, her words coming out much too fast, "What does she need a wrench for? Is she gonna whack somebody on the way home from work? Does she need to put together an emergency book case?"

"You're sweating," Logan points out in a whisper, noticing a bead of perspiration falling down her neck. All her hair is piled on top of her head, it's long now, and this week she's gotten so easily frustrated with it. "Hey Veronica didn't you say you had to go to the bathroom?" Logan asks pointedly, glancing at his fiancée.

"What?" she whips her head around to face him, "Are you, are you sure?"

"Go," Logan mouths, nodding his head in the direction of anywhere else but this table. After another second of hesitation and a guilty glance at her Dad Veronica takes his advice and gets the hell out of there.

Keith stares at his daughter's boyfriend, who returns his gaze without flinching. Logan picks up his water glass to take a sip while Keith asks evenly, "Logan is my daughter pregnant?"

Logan chokes, actually physically starts choking. "She's drinking wine," Logan points out as he coughs. He fights the urge to tell Keith that his daughter had only switched to wine after his arrival, before that she'd been chugging rum and cokes like they were about to be outlawed.

"Then what the hell is going on?" Keith Mars questions, continuing with his best cop stare down. He and Logan get along for the most part, mostly because Logan hasn't given Keith any reason to want to kick his ass lately.

"I asked Veronica to marry me," Logan replies, continuing with his best indifferent youth tone, "She said yes." He smiles then, because Keith should know that it means something to him, that it means everything.

"And that's it?" Keith prods, not sure he believes that there isn't an ulterior movement as to why his stubbornly independent daughter and the biggest slut in Neptune have suddenly decided to settle down.

"I mean it felt pretty huge at the time," Logan snorts, but then adds with a shrug, "but yeah that's it."

"You're young Logan," Keith points out, glancing down.

"Only in body," Logan defends immediately, fist clenching underneath the table despite his best intentions.

"I know it feels like that-" Keith tries again.

"No Sheriff that's how it is," Logan interrupts, voice lowering every so slightly, "I'm young and so is Veronica but only in age. We've been through more shit at this point then a lot of people survive in a lifetime."

"Logan-"

"I get why you'd be worried," Logan continues, "Hell I wouldn't want my daughter to marry me either, but I love her. I want to take care of her, as much as she'll let me. Veronica deserves to be taken care of. She deserves not to be worried about anything ever again."

Keith stares at the boy, maybe the man, in front of him. The man his daughter loves, and the man who loves his daughter. He probably should have known it would come to this. "That's hard to argue with son," he relents eventually.

"Then don't," Logan pleads, "We make each other happy. She's been worried about this for days. Don't argue, just say congratulations."

He sees Veronica approach over Logan's shoulder, a nervous grin on her face. His only child, his beautiful baby girl. He stands as she reaches them, reaching out to pull her into his arms. "Congratulations kid," he whispers into her ear.

"Thanks Dad," Veronica replies back breathily, and it doesn't escape Keith that even with one arm wrapped around him she reaches out to squeeze Logan's shoulder in appreciation.

5:30 pm Saturday September 8

"Okay say, 'we could at least pretend we like each other,'" the photographer requests as he snaps another picture of the most awkward couple in the wedding party. They're standing next to each other, but the guy has his hands in his pockets and the girl's arms are crossed over her chest for Christ's sake.

"Sorry," the blonde apologizes as she glares up at the best man. He's supposed to be a fucking movie star. He could at least act like he's happy.

"Not as much as you're going to be when Mac sees that picture in her wedding album," Wallace observes, he and Parker already provided their couple shot. Mac wants a picture of the pairs that would be walking down the aisle together before the wedding ceremony. That way she has a record of it before everyone gets tanked at the reception.

The whole wedding party minus Mac and Dick are gathered near the prettiest part of the hotel garden. Blooming white roses surround them on all sides, providing a perfect contrast to the burgundy of the bridesmaid dresses. It would be perfect if Veronica and Logan didn't look like the definition of miserable.

"You guys totally hooked up didn't you," the photographer asks with a knowing grin. Veronica's mouth falls open and Logan scowls dangerously.

"Oh god lets not even get started," Parker moans, pressing her palms against her temples. Who knows, after all this shit her head might actually just go ahead and explode.

"Ambitious," the photographer nods approvingly, glancing at the other blonde hovering over his shoulder, "usually they wait to hook up until after the wedding."

"Hey guy I don't know, less fucking commentary and more doing your job," Logan snaps as he takes a half an inch step closer to Veronica. He looks murderous and overwhelmingly uncomfortable, not at all like the collected guy on all of his movie posters.

"You're not making it easy man," the photographer replies.

"Push the tiny button on top," Logan explains as if he's talking to a child, "I thought you were paid to know this?"

"Logan-" Veronica begins and Parker, Wallace, and everyone else looking on can tell this is about to devolve into a screaming match.

"Oh for God's sake," Parker exclaims suddenly, shoving past the photographer to get at everyone's somehow favorite and least favorite couple, "Your arm goes here, yours go here. What are we in junior high? Now look at each other and smile or I will kill both of you tonight." When she steps back Logan's arms are wrapped around Veronica's waist, her hands gripping his wrists.

Without meaning to his fingers brush the fabric of her dress. She glances up at him, just a flick of her eyes and she's caught. She looks at him and he gazes back down at her. He hasn't said a word about the book, or about the other dozen excruciatingly personal things she handed to him last night. She gives him the fakest smile she can manage. The shutter on the camera clicks to capture it.

"Hey, its time to take our places guys," one of the other bridesmaids calls from the hallway. Logan releases Veronica immediately and takes a step back. She walks forward, towards the beach, without so much as glancing at him.

"Sex must have been great," the photographer observes as he glances down at the camera screen.

6:00 pm Saturday September 8

"You know when I took my first step, I didn't know it would all lead to this," Logan whispers dramatically as all the guests find their seats. He's looking out the closed resort doors they're about to walk out of. A large stone patio is where the guests are seated on either side of a trial of white and red roses. Past the stone patio is the beach and then the ocean. The private beach is empty. Mac and Dick rented it out so that no photographers would swarm in hopes of getting a shot of Logan and Veronica. The sun is beginning to set on the horizon and every inch of the patio that doesn't have a chair is filled with candles.

"Logan we all understand that you were above the wedding rehearsal," Parker snaps as she hops on one foot in an attempt to untangle the strap of her high heel, "I'm sure Mac failed to take into account that there are more then a few cops who know you can walk in a straight line."

"This is my moment Parker," Logan continues with the pseudo excitement in his tone, "Don't ruin it for me."

Veronica appears, straight out of the bathroom where she'd had to adjust about three layers of fabric and a pair of control top underwear just to pee. Her hair is pinned up perfectly at the crown of her head with just a piece on either side to frame her face.

"Hey guys," Mac whispers as steps out into the hallway. Immediately all eyes are on her. The tight bodice of her dress shifts seamlessly into a flowing white skirt, her hair falls in waves down her shoulders and her veil trails all the way to the floor. It's not just her beautiful outfit though. Today Mac is so happy she glows.

"Oh wow," seems to be the wedding party's consensus.

"Mac," Veronica begins as she crosses the distance to her friend and wraps her arms around her, "You're getting married. You're really, God it's actually happening."

"I love you too Bond," Mac replies as she squeezes her best friend back hard.

Parker approaches the two, smiling. As Mac pulls back she realizes Veronica has started crying, not just a few tears either. "Oh sweetie," the bride whispers, "don't be sad."

"I'm not," she replies, wiping her eyes with the backs of her hands, "I am so happy for you. You made it."

Mac's Dad appears, looking a little misty eyed himself and the wedding march begins outside. The wedding party takes their places and Veronica links her arm with Logan's. "There really were no more surprises," Veronica whispers as she tucks a loose strand of hair behind her ear.

"Well you're crying at a wedding," Logan observes without looking at her, "so there was one."

"I've been crying a lot this week. It's not surprising at all," Veronica replies and then glancing up at him she adds, "How's my makeup?"

"You're beautiful," he says without looking down. And then it's their turn and the wedding has begun.

6:10 pm Saturday September 8

The ceremony goes by in a blur for Mac. The only thing she remembers is the beginning. When she steps into entryway and onto the rose petal path she sees him immediately. He looks great in his tux, his hair falling in his eyes. She thought he might look nervous, but his smile is just as wide as hers as she walks towards him.

The guest list was small, and she makes it to the altar in record time. She doesn't look away, even as her Dad kisses her cheek and lets her go and even as she hands Veronica her bouquet. She reaches forward and they lace their fingers together as the nondenominational pastor she had meticulously selected begins to speak. She thought during her wedding she'd feel self conscious, but she doesn't feel anything other then love, other then the excitement that after all these words are said and vows are exchanged they will be married. She doesn't register anything that's said until Dick begins to speak.

He takes a deep breath. God who knew this was going to be hard? He starts with a list, "It's because of the smell of your hair, your eyes when you smile, the way your lips more when you talk. How smart you are, how driven you are, the way you make me want to be both of those things too. That you don't have to fake anything, because you're never afraid to be yourself or say what's on your mind. It's because of the day drinking, the spazzy way you dance, and the fact that you can't cook but keep trying anyway. I love you for a million reasons. I find a new one everyday. And I don't know, I'm not very good at this. But I was nineteen when I started to realize how amazing you were. How much I wanted to be apart of your life. And it took two years to prove I was serious. To show you that you could trust me and count on me and that I wasn't that guy you went to high school with anymore. I don't know where'd I'd be if I hadn't convinced you. I never want to know what my life would be like without you in it. So I vow to keep the stupid questions to a minimum, to stand with you in front of an Apple store every time a new product launches, and to keep my eyes open when you explain it for fifth time. I vow to be faithful, to try to make you happy every chance I get, and to take care of you whenever you'll let me and sometimes when you won't. I vow that this is forever, because you're the best friend I've ever had, and I can't wait to spend the rest of my life having a freakin' blast with you."

It's her turn, but she doesn't know if she can, if anything she says will come close to what he has just laid at her feet. "I knew I should have gone first," she murmurs, using one of their interlaced hands to wipe her eyes. She takes her own deep breath and looks at him, a smile growing as she speaks just to him, "I didn't know it was possible to laugh so hard I cried sitting on a metal bench in hundred degree weather while cars drove in circles for hours on end. In twenty years my parents had barely gotten me to smile. I didn't know camping was supposed to be fun or that I could enjoy a baseball game even if I didn't bring my Kindle. Without you I wouldn't know where to put my feet on a surfboard, how to crack the perfect dirty joke, or the temperature of the ocean when you jump in at two in the morning. I wouldn't know that excitement trumps fear every time, that life isn't supposed to be lived in front of a glowing screen, or that sometimes the biggest chances you take get you the biggest rewards. For all the things I've learned from professors and computers, you are constantly teaching me lessons. So I vow to try and make you smile as much as you make me laugh, to never stop letting you talk me into things, and to always appreciate your ability to turn any situation into a joke even when it makes me want to kill you. I vow to tell you my worst fears and my biggest dreams and to always point out when you're being amazing, because you so rarely notice. And I vow to love you always, even though sometimes it doesn't make sense to anybody but us."

"Do you Richard Casablancas take Cindy Mackenzie as your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward as long as you both shall live?" The pastor asks.

"Hell yeah," Dick answers immediately, it's just a whisper though so he adds, louder this time as he slips the ring on her finger, hands shaking, "I do."

"And do you Cindy Mackenzie take Richard Casablancas as your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold from this day forward as long as you both shall live?"

"I do," Mac replies.

"Then by the power vested in me by the state of California I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may-" the whole church erupts into laughter as Mac and Dick move at the same time, kissing each other before the pastor can even get the words out.

"You may now kiss the bride."