Author's Note: Y'all probably freaked out by that little surprise from the last chapter. As much I adore DoVe; I can assure you that this is a LoVe story. Don't worry. It's just there are obstacles for them. Btw, thank you so much for those who reviewed, favorited, and subscribed. I really appreciate it *happy*

Neptune High

Principal Von Clemmons was walking into the gym during last period. Most students were inside the classes, so he had time to check it out. The gym was empty and already cleared from rolls of tissue. He already hired Darrel to find the culprit who TP'ed the gym few days ago. Unfortunately, Darrel was not Veronica Mars. Clemmons sighed remembering his famous student; she was very smart and witty and completely resourceful solving any case. And now, Darrel was trying to fill her shoe. Too bad Darrel was not as quick as Veronica. The boy was more 'polite' in solving case and usually takes his time. But at least he would get the job done. One time, Darrell found who stole several students' laptops and even his in a week. But Veronica would solve the case in a day or two, Clemmons thought.

Clemmons wondered whether he would see Veronica in the Reunion. He heard that Logan Echolls was back in town. Those two… they were always got themselves in trouble, he couldn't keep up. But after all that happened to her, Clemmons wouldn't be surprised if she didn't come. Some people have their bad lucks…

"Principal Clemooons…!" Someone calling him in a sing-song voice. He turned around, and saw Madison Sinclair Hudson walked into the gym happily. She was 8 months pregnant, but she was wearing mini skirt and high heels. Clemmons shivered and prayed that she wouldn't fall off.

"Ah, Ms. Sinclair, or should I say Mrs. Hudson. Glad you can make it. Thank you for being here and checking out the gym. As you can see, we cleaned it." He shook Madison's hand.

"Principal Clemmons, don't worry. The gym would look fantastic at the end of the week – trust me on this, I've done this many times. I'm a professional." She boasted.

"Yes, that's why I hired you to handle the details of the Reunion. You own a respectable party organizer with your husband, and you are fully recommended by many people." Clemmons said. Not to mention cheap.

Madison gave a shrill laugh. "Thank you, Mr. Clemmons. It's nice to be back and…"

Her words were cut off when the fire alarm suddenly rang. Clemmons and Madison looked at each other in confusion, when the sprinkler was turned on. But instead of water, it was green paint. They could hear the students were screaming and sounds of footsteps of people running. When the sprinkler finally off, Madison and Clemmons were standing in the middle of the gym, wet from paint. Madison's hair was sticking to her head, and her clothes were clinging tightly to her body.

Clemmons' face was red with anger, and green with paint. He was going to storm out from the gym, but he slipped from a puddle of paint and fell on his butt. Madison shrieked but didn't do anything. She was flailing her arms and cried.

Magpie Diner, Downtown

Keith Mars was sitting in a booth facing the window. From his position, he could see the street and stores in front of the diner. He wasn't wearing his uniform as it was his day off, even though it was in the middle of the week. He was nursing his drink and his pie as he watched a building from his window; a gallery. It was a small building and modest gallery, but it was pretty exclusive. He was watching Veronica's gallery called Aphrodite Gallery.

Veronica owned the gallery where she put her photography artworks and also a photo studio. Many people go there to have their pictures taken with some art design. Veronica was very good with her photography. It was something Keith was proud of.

Keith missed his daughter every day. He wished he could see her and talk to her… but that husband of hers…

Veronica sent him a birthday gift few months ago; it was a beautiful watch. He almost cried when he received it, but he had to return it. Her husband made sure that every connection between her and Keith was cut off. He wished that he could kill him so he could have his little baby girl back. But there was nothing he could do. This was Neptune City, after all. Where the rich and powerful rules the street of Neptune.

Sure, when she married him, Keith was angry and upset and refused to talk to her. Veronica was always a justified and get even kind of woman; she wouldn't hesitate to break any laws. Add her husband, and you'd get the most notorious couple in Neptune. But after a while, Keith didn't care. He just wanted to see her… he couldn't see her in a normal way. That fucktard would send his goons to warn him not to influence her to leave their marriage, not caring they were talking to a Sheriff. They beat up Wallace when he went to see her. It was the reason why Wallace never picked up the phone from Veronica as he also worried with the safety of his son, Theodore...

"Would you like a cup of coffee, Sheriff?" Asked a waitress named Carla. Carla had been his waitress for 3 years now. Sometimes he brought his son, Darrell, and they would sit in the same booth facing the window, and Carla would wait their table.

"No, thanks Carla." He smiled. "Actually, can I order another blue berry pie and a glass of milk? My son is coming over."

"You got it." She winked and walked to the kitchen.

Keith reclined to his seat and watched the building again. He hoped that he would see Veronica today. The gallery was open, but sometimes there was her assistant, that cold bitch Larissa, who ran the place where Veronica was traveling or something. Veronica often traveled around the world and sometimes had an exhibition out of town. When she was in town, she usually worked in her gallery. Keith usually could see her from the window, sitting in her desk, looking at pictures or talking to her assistant. How he wished that he could see her face to face.

Keith was slurping his drink when his son, Darrell, walked into the Diner. He was about to wave when he saw how he looked.

Darrell was green.

His hair and his clothes were green, except his face. It was apparent that he tried to clean himself up but with no avail. He looked pissed and ignored patrons' stares. He threw his green backpack and squeezed himself into the booth. Keith didn't say anything, just stared at his son. Carla approached them and put the pie and a glass of milk in front of Darrell.

"Thanks." Darrell muttered.

"Today's Special is Green bean salad. Would you like some?" Carla asked without any hint of sarcasm. Darrell pursed his lips and shook his head slowly. She left them alone, and other patrons continued their eating.

After few beats, Keith finally asked. "Should I worry?"

"Clemmons wants my head!" Darrell seethed. "I was in the class, and then suddenly the fire sprinklers turned on, and instead of water, the whole school was covered with this crap!"

"Whoa." Keith grimaced. "I take Clemmons blame it on you?"

"He's not blaming me per se, but he's kinda insinuated that I suck with this sleuthing thing."

"That's not true. You're awesome detective." He reached to his son's face and wiped a trace of paint from his nose with a tissue. Darrell was still pissed so he swatted Keith's hand. "Hey, don't be like that. Come on."

"Sorry." He sighed. He gulped his glass of milk and slammed the glass on the table when he finished. "I need a stronger drink."

"Coffee, okay?"

"I'm seventeen years old boy. Beer." Keith raised his eyebrow. "Coffee, of course." He dug into his pie and ate furiously. Keith smiled proudly to his step son. Their relationship sometimes reminded him with Veronica back when she was… Keith cleared his throat and watched the building again. Darrell saw his dad was looking to his step sister's building. "Is she there?"

"I haven't seen her." Keith shrugged. "Maybe she's outta town."

Darrell looked the building behind him, and shook his head. "I doubt it. She just got back from New York couple of days ago. And there's this supposedly reunion this weekend at school. I don't think she's outta town."

"They don't cancel the reunion?"

Darrell shook his head, "Nope. I think they're gonna move it someplace else." He was talking and eating at the same time. "Leo and other deputies were at school today, and they laughed to see the school. Clemmons declared that this is no longer a prank, but a full blown crime. The whole school is green. The classes, the lockers, the gym – of course – the cafeteria, you name it. You should've seen it, pops. The school was destroyed. Whoever the culprit, it was pretty awesome. I mean, how do you do that?" He put more food into his mouth even though he was still chewing. Keith signaled Carla to bring some coffee to his son.

"Good question. How are you gonna approach this?"

Darrell chewed slowly and thought hard. "Check the fire sprinkler?"

"Good. And then what?" Keith tried to teach Darrell how to use his detective skills. Darrell looked at him with a bored expression.

"Pops, my brain is affected by these chemical. I don't think I can think right now." Keith just chuckled.

"Leo said something?"

"He said that he wants to check the paint."

"Good. You should ask him for help with the investigation. There's no shame of asking for help." He glanced again to the building. "Check the fire sprinkler; usually they have timers. See who has access to the maintenance. Check the paint; there's bound to be buckets of those and they don't get rid off easily. Check the store who sold the paint, who bought it. Work together with Leo in this. Set up a meeting with Fire Department chief, and ask around about fire safety regulations and how it works."

Darrell nodded in amazement. "You're da man."

"I'm da man." Keith smirked. "And this is most important thing: all of those are just technical. Look for motives. There's always a motive behind every crime. Even sociopath has motive." He paused for a while. "If you find a motive, you might find the culprit."

Darrell nodded. Keith suddenly looked up and saw his daughter was walking to her gallery with her husband. Darrell looked behind that they were walking hand in hand, and then stopped at front of the gallery. He hugged and kissed her passionately.

"Yuck…What an asshole. I think I just threw up in my mouth." Darrell commented.

"You and I both, kid." Keith muttered, ignoring his son's choice of words. Darrell grabbed his backpack suddenly and rushed out from the Diner. "What the hell you're doing?" But Darrell was already crossing the street towards them. "Shit. Don't look for trouble, kid."

Darrell crossed the street and approached them when suddenly a couple of bodyguards stepped in front of him. "Move over, boy." One of them growled.

Darrell wasn't a small boy. He was seventeen and a basketball player like his brother, Wallace. The difference was he was taller than Wallace; almost 6'3"ft tall. When he reached puberty back then, his growth sprouted over night basically. He never backed down when being provoked. A 6'3"ft black teenager seemed like a threat.

"Hey, sis! Wassup! Can I use your bathroom?" Darrell yelled to Veronica.

Both Veronica and her husband stopped kissing. He frowned to see the intrusion, and Veronica was shocked to see Darrell looked green.

"Darrell! What happened to you?" She asked and grabbed his hand.

Veronica's husband was looking at Darrell bemusedly. "Did St. Patrick throw up on you?" He dismissed his bodyguards and they obeyed.

"School prank gone wrong. Can I please use your bathroom to clean up? I can't go home like this, mom will kill me." Darrell gave Veronica his trademark puppy eyes.

Veronica laughed and pulled his hand to the gallery. "Of course. Feel free to use it. We don't want Alicia to be angry. Right?" She looked at her husband who just shrugged.

"Well, this is my cue to leave." He gave Veronica some leftover lunch doggy bag and kissed her softly. "See you at home." He nodded to Darrell. "Leprechaun."

"Ha-ha, yeah – it's because I'm GREEN right?" Darrell shouted sarcastically. He just laughed and waved to his wife, and then climbed into his limo. Darrell was the only person who he allowed to see Veronica, because he didn't feel threatened by her little brother. Darrell was the only connection with the Mars family. It was at least he could do make her happy. And it seemed Darrell never say anything that could compromise their marriage.

Veronica seemed excited to see her step brother. "So, how's everything?"

Keith watched his children walked into the gallery and saw his son-in-law's limo drove away. He sighed as he saw Veronica was laughing with Darrell. He was thankful that Veronica was allowed to see Darrell in occasion. But he already told Darrell not to say anything about how Keith and Wallace weren't allowed to see her. Veronica thought that Keith disowned her because she got married to that asshole husband. As much it hurts him, he had to keep the appearance. It took him so much strength not to walk into her gallery and hug his daughter and not letting her go.

Keith sighed and finished up his pie.

Downtown Neptune

Two men were sitting in a car across Aphrodite Gallery. They were watching the gallery, and they saw everything.

"Is that her?" One of the men asked. Veronica was pulling Darrell to her gallery, laughing.

"Yeah." The other answered.

"She's pretty." He commented.

"Uhuh."

"She doesn't look… tough." He said. "She looks like Tinkerbelle."

The other men snorted. "Don't be fooled by her appearance. She managed to kill McGarrett in New York."

"Why we're watching her?"

"Because she's our valuable asset. And she has connection to… that husband of hers."

"That tool looked like he wanted eat her." Both of them chuckled. And they went quiet and watched the gallery again.

Aphrodite Gallery

Veronica was sitting at her desk, looking at several pictures from her magnifier, when Darrell walked in and drying his hair with a towel. He was wearing fresh clothes from his backpack. He always carried extra clothes because he usually had basketball practice.

She looked at him and smiled. "Better."

Darrell grinned and plopped himself into seat in front of her desk. "Clemmons hates me."

"He doesn't hate you." Veronica chuckled. "In fact, I never saw him get mad at all. He's too… Machiavelli for that."

"Macau who?"

"You need to brush up your history." Veronica said affectionally. She opened a doggy bag from her leftover lunch which Darrell gingerly grabbed some fries. "We went to this restaurant for some late lunch. They had the most amazing Italian food." She and Darrell shared the food. They didn't say anything for a while.

"So, how's everything in your life?" Darrell asked while eating his fries.

Veronica's smile didn't reach her eyes. "Same old, same old. How's everything in your life?" She pointed his green back pack.

"Sis, I tell you – that was an elaborate prank. I mean, I heard many famous pranks from that school, but nothing tops this. Not even that famous prank of putting the English teacher's car in a flag pole!" Darrell was talking excitedly.

Veronica smiled wider, remembering the prank. "Yeah, I remember."

"But now Clemmons paint me into the corner, so to speak. He said he would give me another chance. If I can't solve this case, he would fire me." He shook his head. "I'm fine if he doesn't want my service anymore, but it would bruise my ego."

Veronica reclined to her seat and pondered a little. "So, how are you gonna approach this?"

Darrell stared at his sister. Jeez, she sounds like Pops. "Err… I'm thinking of checking out the fire sprinkler, maybe I could find out who has access to the maintenance. And maybe check out the paint, like who bought it and stuff…"

She smiled proudly to him, "Very good, Darrell. Dad taught you well." He was blushing from her compliment. "And don't forget the most crucial thing in every crime."

"Motive?"

She smiled widely, this time her smile reached her eyes. "Yes, motive. You need to interview people about what happened. Fish something out of their comments; how they feel about the whole prank thing. Read subtle meaning. Make a deduction." She leaned forward, "But always… and ALWAYS has proof to back up your theory." She looked sad for a second. "Don't jump into a conclusion. It will burn you in the end…"

Darrell nodded. "Have you ever… missed it?"

"Miss what?"

"You know… detective stuff."

"I help some people in occasion… but not as much as back then…" She said quietly. "He doesn't me to work in that field anymore. Beside, I have my photography to occupy my days."

"That's not what I asked."

She looked at Darrell. He really changed a lot from that young boy who liked to follow Wallace everywhere and played with his toys. He was a man now. "Yes. I miss it… sometimes."

"Pops said I shouldn't be ashamed of asking for help. Can I ask for your help with this case?" Veronica looked at her little brother sadly.

"I know someone who could help you, actually." She typed something from her Samsung Galaxy Tablet and then showed him a website.

"What am I looking at?"

"It's a Custom Garage called La Tierra. There's a contact numbers there, so you can call and have a meeting with the owner. Tell him you're my brother. We go way back." She grinned.

"Why would I want to talk to this person?"

"He knows stuff about pranks, crimes, and stuff. You may learn something; like who, when, how, what and all those things from him. He spent some time in prison for involuntary manslaughter. But he's a good friend of mine. "

"Of course you know this person." Darrell rolled his eyes, while Veronica just smirked.

"We went to high school together. His name is Eli Navarro."

Darrell nodded. "Okay, thanks sis."

They went quiet for a moment. And then Veronica asked Darrell a question he had been avoiding. "How's dad?" She asked softly.

"He's fine. Healthy. Busy with Sheriff works."

"Did he… did he ask about me?" She didn't look at his eyes.

Darrell was in torment. He wanted to say to Veronica that their dad was always thinking about her every day, but he couldn't talk nor seeing her because he was banned by her stupid husband. Keith made him promise not to tell Veronica about anything. "No…" He lied quietly.

Veronica pursed her lips, and looked away. She was trying not to cry. "How about Alicia, Wallace, Claudette and Theodore?"

Darrell grabbed her Galaxy tablet and typed 'Neptune Connection'. "They're great. Theo is so cute nowadays." He showed her a website profile. There was a profile picture of their family; Keith, Alicia, Wallace, Claudette holding Theodore, and Darrell. But Veronica was absent from that picture. It hurts her so much. She stared the picture lovingly and she soothed the surface with her fingers, which lingered on Keith's face.

"Tell them… tell them I miss them, okay?" She croaked.

"Of course, sis." He stood up and walked to Veronica, and then he hugged her tight. Veronica hugged him back and let few tears dropped.

Sometimes Darrell wanted to choke his brother-in-law to death for making her sad like this.

Ganymede Apartment

Logan stays at a 3 stars hotel called Parthenon Hotel. He refused to stay in Neptune Grand, even though his manager already booked him a room. It would be like revisiting your nightmare again, he thought bitterly. He stayed at that hotel for almost a year after his house was burned down by PCHers a decade ago.

In a way, a place where he left all his memories, good or back, and he didn't plan to feel nostalgic about it. It was enough that he got a surprise that Veronica was married to Sheriff Don Lamb… he found out that Keith Mars disowned Veronica. But why?

He needed to get to the bottom of this.

He called Dick yesterday and asked to meet up. Dick suggested surfing, but Logan said that he had to see Trina first. Although disappointed, Dick didn't dwell with the subject and suggested dinner instead. Dick asked whether he could bring Mac.

Logan remembered Mac; broken and crying, because of Cassidy.

Logan agreed to meet the two of them; they would meet tomorrow around 7ish for dinner. In the mean time, he would visit Trina today. She stays at Ganymede Apartment, near downtown. Not exactly Neptune Grand or even 09ers establishment; a simple apartment building surrounded by shopping stores – but it wasn't exactly a place where he expected Trina to lived. Logan read the tenant's list and then pushed the buzz button. The door immediately opened and Logan walked in. What a great security, he thought sarcastically. A good way to sneak in paparazzi. Or maybe it was her plan all along; after all, she was a desperate seeking attention celebrity whore. Logan finally stood in front of her apartment, and rang the doorbell. It took a while, and Logan rang again when the door was opened.

Instead of Trina, she saw a middle-age woman. She was wearing a simple clothes and she had kind eyes. She was holding a pen and a notepad. Logan was confused; did he ring the wrong apartment? "I'm sorry, I must be mistaken. I have the wrong room." Logan apologized. The woman didn't say anything; she just smiled and then scribbled something on her notepad, and then ripped the paper sheet and gave it to Logan.

He read it, and it said: "YOU MUST BE LOGAN. I'M TRINA'S MOM."

Logan's eyes widened. "O – Okay, I see." He looked at the woman in front of him; she looked nice and friendly, and she seemed familiar. It was obvious she was deaf as she didn't say anything, only smiling and nodding. Logan learned American Sign Language and many sign languages around the world. It was something he learned to understand secret codes and such. He understood a bit, although not really fluent.

She scribbled again and wrote: "MY NAME IS MARY."

Logan smiled and he gestured with a sign language: "Nice to meet you, Mary."

This time, Mary's eyes widened. She looked happy that Logan understood ASL. She tapped Logan's both cheeks with her hands. "You're a handsome man. You're taller the last time I saw you."

Logan was confused, "Have we met before?"

"I was the lunch lady back in Neptune High. You were always sitting at the quad with your friends." She smiled. "You were naughty."

Logan blushed. He was a bit embarrassed that he didn't recognize her; back then he was a jackass, always looking down towards poor people. "I'm sorry, I remember you now." Logan gestured sincerely. "I was a bad kid…"

Mary shook her head and pulled Logan inside. "It's all in the past. What's important is now." She gestured. "Trina installed a light for the doorbell, so I'd know when someone at the door." She explained with her hands and pointed a red light on the wall. She then showed Logan the couch. Logan noticed that the apartment was pretty modest. Not exactly a celebrity type apartment. "Trina is sick, so she asked me to stay with her."

"I'm sorry, I didn't know." Logan gestured. "What is she sick of?"

Mary sighed and glanced towards a room. "Trina doesn't know any sign language, so she doesn't speak much with me… We're not that close, but she visits me often." She looked sad. "I think she's having problems with her boyfriend."

Logan rolled his eyes, "Old news."

Mary pursed her lips and seemed sad. "You're not that close with her, are you?"

Logan shook his head slowly, "No. We haven't talk for years now."

"I understand." She nodded. "Trina can be difficult sometimes."

You have no idea, Logan thought. But he didn't gesture anything; he didn't want to upset this nice lady. He knew that Trina had a mother back then, something about a scandal with Principal Moore. He didn't pay any attention to that particular news. Trina seemed happy enough that she had scandal, so she could have her name in the tabloids.

Mary put a cup of tea on the table. "Trina is sleeping right now. She took a painkiller and sleeping pill." She grimaced.

Logan closed his eyes and clenched his jaw. "Please tell me that her boyfriend of the week didn't beat her." Mary didn't answer, just sighed. "Can I see her? I won't wake her up." Mary pondered this for a bit. And then she gently took Logan's hand and walked him to Trina's room. She opened her room carefully and took a peek. When she thought it was safe, she opened the door wider. Logan stepped into the room slowly and saw Trina was sleeping in her bed.

He saw this view before; Trina's face looked like a punching bag from being beaten. She had a cast on her arm. But she looked peaceful, as she was sleeping like a baby.

Logan hadn't seen his step-sister for a decade. As much he hates her, this wasn't right at all.

"Don't tell her that I let you seeing her like this. If you called first, she would put some heavy make up and would pretend nothing happened." Mary gestured.

Logan closed the door slowly and put his hand behind Mary's back and guided her to the living room. He sat and drank his tea. Logan likes to drink tea. Sometimes he drank tea to calm his nerves. Mary sighed and sat in front of Logan. She then signed, "Both of you were raised in a rough environment. I am so sorry about that."

Logan was about to argue that Trina had it easy; Aaron treated her like a princess. He even beat her boyfriend when he laid his hands on Trina. But once again, he held his opinion. Trina had it easy as an Echolls… but she had it hard in love and career department. Trina reminded him with Patricia, who was abused by her husband back then. Logan looked up to Mary and asked, "Do you know her boyfriend's name?"

Mary shook her head. "Like I said, I'm not that close with Trina. But as long as she needs me to take care of her, I'm okay."

Logan nodded. A mother taking care of her child was a foreign concept. Most of his friends were raised by nannies. "Thank you for taking care of her. I'm glad that she has someone." Logan gestured sincerely.

Mary smiled widely, "It's the least I can do. I abandoned her back then. This time, I'm here." Logan wished his mother would do the same thing. Alas, that wouldn't happen. "I guess I owe it to your friend to discover the truth about me."

"My friend?"

"Yes, her mother was very nice to me. I can see how she got her kindness." When Logan just looked at her in confusion, Mary just smiled. "You know her. Both of you were high school sweethearts." Logan stared at her as he realized who she was talking about. "Veronica Mars, right? I remember both of you were in love. I knew you were in love, I could see it."

Logan was pale as the memory rushed back to his head. He remembered back when he was in high school, how much he was in love with Veronica Mars. No, he was definitely still in love with her. He cleared his throat and shakily gestured, "That was a long time ago… We haven't spoken for years."

Mary nodded understandably. "Yes, I understand. Sometime lovers or friends come and go." She then shook her head in sadness. "Poor child. She also has a rough life."

"What do you mean?"

Mary seemed reluctant to explain this. "I guess you don't know what happened to her… But then again, nobody knew the details…"

"What happened to her?" Logan asked. His heart was beating so fast. Of all places he was looking for information, he didn't expect to get it from Mary. "Please tell me, Mary." He gestured wildly.

She looked at him sadly. Her eyes were glimmering with tears. "My dear, she was kidnapped and raped."