Hey, I'm sorry it's been so long since an update. School started and so it's going to be harder to update. I'm shooting for 1 to 2 times a month. I'm sorry if it's really bad. the next chapter we are going to get into the mystery if you want to call it that. I hope you are having a wonderful week. Review if you want to and I apologize for grammar mistakes.

Chapter 5

"Logan there's something I need to tell you, something I haven't told anyone else…" Veronica started watching as the waves reflected the moonlight, allowing the ebb and flow of the crashing waves to relax her. "I'm taking the bar in two weeks. I've been studying like crazy and taking all of the classes and what not the state of California requires. But I don't want anyone to know in case I end up failing horribly." She finished half wishing she hadn't said anything at all.

"Come on Veronica, you really think you're gonna fail?" Logan responded glancing sideways at Veronica also enveloped by the ocean before them. "And by the way, I'm glad your going to take it. And I know you're gonna pass. Plus by taking the bar your dad might be a little more accepting of our relationship." He joked.

"What my dad accepting our relationship? Never!? My dad loves you now. I mean you did save his life." She caught the skepticism on his face before her could hide it. "Okay so maybe love is too strong a word, but he definitely tolerates you so well now." They were quiet for a few minutes trying to focus on the moment. "Yes a part of me believes I'm gonna fail. Did you know that on average the pass rates sit between 35% and 55%. Most people fail it the first time. I don't know if I can handle failing. I've never been too good at that."

"Veronica… one you're not most people, I'm pretty sure you've known half the information that'll be on the test since you were a junior in high school. Two, if you fail you fail and you take it again in February. But, if you want help studying or you need somewhere quiet to study you can do it here and I can take care of Hunter until I go back on duty. Have some confidence in yourself."

"You're right, I know you're right, I'm just nervous." She finished quietly, contemplative.

Veronica laid back against the sand and closed her eyes. She let the rhythm of the waves and the stillness of the night relax her nerves. Logan followed suit turning his head towards her. "so what are you thinking about now?" He inquired.

"Everything. The test, the question you popped tonight, Hunter, my mom, telling my dad that we're engaged, you going back to duty soon, and how I really need to focus on the moment and just be happy. I'm not too good at that, ya know?" She finished with a sigh.

"That's a lot. Look if an engagement is too much we can just act like it didn't happen. I don't want to stress you out, it's just that we both deserve to be happy, especially you, and I just thought this would make us happy-"

"It does, and you're not allowed to take it back. I just think too much. I'm happier now than I have been for a really long time. In the past, however, with every big change in my life, trouble and sadness followed. And I really don't want that to happen this time."

"Well it would be naive of me to promise you that it won't happen but I can do my best to make you happy and be there for you in spite of the bad things. Deal?"

"Deal!"

"So Mars you sure you want to marry me?"

"Well, I don't know Echolls are you sure you want me too? I have been likened to a hurricane before."

"It's a hurricane I would be glad to get swept away in. So, what has Veronica Mars always imagined as her dream wedding?"

"There's not a lot to it, to be honest, my dad walking me down the aisle, towards the man that I love, with my closest friends and family with me. So all in all I think we've got to invite my dad, Mac, Wallace, and I will even let you invite Dick. But that's I can think of. What did you write down in your diary growing up while planning of your dream wedding?"

"Aw man it was beautiful. I have on this elegant white dress that fits my figure perfectly, white swans sitting in a lake behind the alter, and the most beautiful women standing waiting for me, because the day really would be all about me anyways." Veronica slapped him on the back of the head laughing as he finished. "I think your idea of a wedding is great. It should be small and witnessed only by the people who have been there for us and helped us grow. But I might want to invite some of my navy buddies if that's okay with you. And we can even do it right here if you want. Ceremony on the beach followed by the reception in the house and out here."

"Deal."

"That only leaves the when."

"I don't want to do it until you're out of the Navy. That way you'll come back to me every time you leave."

"You know that I'll come back to you whether we are married or not don't you, always, not matter what."

"Yeah but this way you'll have an extra incentive."

"Okay, deal we will get married right here in roughly a year and a half."

"Well Logan I think that may have been the fastest planned wedding ever."

"I think you're right Veronica."

The next morning Veronica walked into her father's kitchen with Logan behind her. Her dad was already making breakfast for when Hunter wakes up. "Someone's doing the walk of shame."

"Actually that would be two someone's and we literally sat up and talked all night on the beach. Nothing shameful about that now is there." Veronica said reaching around her father for a piece of bacon off the plate next to him.

"Good morning Logan."

"Morning Mr. Mars. I hope it's okay that I'm here."

"It's fine. Grab a plate and some food I'll go get Hunter up." Keith spoke louder as he walked out of the kitchen.

"When do you want to tell him?" Logan inquired.

"I was thinking either never or when he notices the ring whichever comes first. So grab some food I already told him you would be here this morning so there's plenty. Eat up."

The next moment Hunter came bounding into the room ready to eat closely followed by Keith. The four people sat eating like a "normal" family, something that none of them have experienced for quite a while. Veronica and Logan were happy but nervous, waiting for either Keith or Hunter to notice the ring. Soon this would be their life on a daily basis. They couldn't wait.

No one noticed during breakfast. Logan left with Hunter for a day full of adventures; while Keith and Veronica went into the office to get some work done. They walked in, passed Mac in the outer office, and then set to work closing cases. Not paying attention to her actions, during lunch Veronica reached past her dad for some more manicotti while reading a file, with her left hand. Keith looked up just in time to glimpse a slight reflection of light from a tiny object.

"What was that?" He asked.

"What's what?" Veronica responded still engrossed in the file.

"The little light being reflected from your hand." He stated.

For some unknown reason Veronica quickly sat on her hand. The conversation about to take place terrified her. "Are you seeing things in your old age dad?" she attempted to hide behind humor.

"Maybe, but I didn't imagine anything this time. Let me see your hand," she held out her right hand turning it over. "Your other hand." He pressured while all but pulling out her left hand. Begrudgingly she obeyed, not sure of what reaction to expect.

"That's an engagement ring I assume?" Keith asked almost monotone.

"Yes it is" Veronica answered more sheepishly than intended.

"Okay." Keith finished getting back to work.

Veronica didn't know how to react to this. Out of all possible reactions she had gone through since last night that wasn't one of them. She was getting more and more annoyed as the seconds ticked by on the analog wall clock. "That's it, that's all your going to say? Okay."

"What else would you like me to say Veronica, How dare you say yes to the man who saved my life, or the only man I've ever seen make you truly happy, besides me that is. To be quite honest I'm surprised it didn't happen sooner." Keith finished stunning Veronica.

She had no idea how to respond to her father. She sat there opening and closing her mouth over and over again looking like a fish. "Mac I think I broke Veronica." Mac waked through the door looking at Veronica just sitting in shock.

"Oh, did you finally notice the ring on her finger?" Keith nodded. "I don't understand why they aren't married by now."

"That's basically what I said."

Mac walked over and poked Veronica, forcing Veronica out of her stupor. "You knew too?"

"Of course I knew I saw the ring when you walked in this morning, I figured when you were ready you'd tell me. So when's the wedding?"

"A year and a half away, that's when Logan has the option to re-up or leave the Navy. He said he was going to leave."

"I guess we should start planning then." Mac stated with a wicked grin.

"No need we already planned it. It's going to be on the beach behind our house with like a total of," Veronica counted her on her hands, "abut 7 people including Logan and myself and the person preforming the ceremony. Maybe 8 people, unless anyone has a date."

"Sounds fun." Mac responded leaving to go back to work.

For the rest of the day everyone in the office worked without much conversation. When it was time to leave, Logan and Hunter were waiting for Veronica in the parking lot. They were all going out to dinner including Mac and Keith.

In the car Veronica looked at Logan and told him about her dad finally noticing the engagement ring and her laughed. Logan personally agreed with Keith and his reaction. What Veronica didn't know is that everyone in her life, who's important to her already, knew and was about to meet them for a congratulations dinner.