Author's Note 1: Apparently I lost many reviewers... but gained many subscribers and favorites. I guess it balance things a little bit, heee... Anyway, I apologize that the story is taking a while. Like I said before, life is been pretty busy and I have been recuperating for a while. So... if you're still reading this fic, I am grateful. Please drop me some reviews to give some constructive feedback. I really appreciate it. Now, since last year, there have been changes with Facebook. Who knew that Mark Zuckerberg is married this year and Facebook's shares are crashing to the ground? So for the sake of this fic, let's just say this is a fictional Facebook and Mark Zuckerberg is still single. I might use him as a character in the future. Some people prefer to send reviews anonymously or message me instead. So I turn on the anon review now. I was a bit reluctant for anon reviews in the past, because I usually would get spam or threats (for my other fics). But I can't control what people might say. I trust you'd give some constructive feedback instead. I don't condone cyber bullying or threats, and I hope everyone would never experience the same thing.

Author's Note 2: This chapter is inspired by Before Sunrise and Before Sunset. If you haven't seen those movies... for the love of God, go watch them now! The inspiration is their rambling dialogue. As always, big thanks to layoung13 for the beta!

Aphrodite Gallery

Veronica couldn't believe that Logan was in her gallery, hugging her. She missed him terribly, especially after the whole ordeal that happened today at noon. She had just murdered a mob lawyer in LA and then ran for her life. When the bodyguards in that alley cornered her, one person she remembered was Logan. It made her a little bit guilty that she remembered Logan instead of her husband. She didn't know what happened much; she was sure she was going to die in that alley. But she was saved by the last minute…

Flashback

Veronica looked at the fallen bodyguards on the ground in open mouth, and then looked around and saw two men were putting their guns away. She couldn't see who those men were as their faces were obscured by shadows from the buildings, and they were wearing trucker hats. They looked at her and then turned around, moving very quickly.

Veronica raised her hand, "Wait…! Who are - ?"

"Run, stupid girl!" One of them yelled at her.

Veronica startled but composed herself. She looked bodyguards lying on the ground. They weren't dead, but they were hurt badly. They were shot in the non-vital organs, and they were groaning. She immediately walked away and left the alley in another direction from those mysterious men.

A few blocks away, Veronica ditched her wig and contact lens into a garbage can. She used a broken broomstick to push the items further into the can along with other sticky trash. She doubted the police would find the items, and if they did, those items were already contaminated. But she wasn't taking any chances; she pulled out a box of matches and lighted the trashcan. She watched the trash burn, and then she walked away. Getting rid of the gun was much trickier. Veronica dismantled the gun with its silencer piece by piece, put them on the ground while looking at her surrounding area, and then put a few firecrackers she had grabbed from the restaurant into the barrel and the silencer before lighting them up. The firecrackers made a muffled cracking sound as they burnt the gun inside out. She then grabbed a rock and hit the gun several times. After she finished, she put the broken gun into a plastic bag. She disposed of the gun by throwing it into a small pond near a bridge. She watched the gun sink to the bottom.

Veronica saw that she was in a secluded area very far away from the restaurant. The men who helped her were nowhere to be seen, but she had a feeling that those men were watching her. She wondered who the men were, but felt grateful that they saved her. It was a big chance that they weren't cops or law enforcements. Maybe they were from the organization that ordered her. She wondered whether she was being set up for killing the Chinese mob lawyer – or maybe it was a coincidence that everything went badly for her. She was supposed to check out the perimeter first, not immediately kill the target. If she were being set up, then those men wouldn't save her, right?

The organization won't be thrilled… Veronica thought bitterly. She was taught better than this. Either the organization had set me up or I was being reckless. She was lucky that those men were helping her. Too bad she didn't see their faces. She was glad at least she looked like a different person with her wig and contact lens. Witnesses would claim that the killer they saw was an Asian woman or someone with different feature from her.

But who would suspect Veronica Mars?

Veronica closed her eyes. She could still see the mob lawyer's wife crying while their children were rooted to their spots after seeing their father killed in front of them.

She abruptly wiped a tear from the corner of her eye, and then found herself near the bus station. Apparently, she had run very far away from Chinatown. She looked around; no cops or anyone else was chasing her. But she still had a weird feeling that those men were following her. She sighed and thought that as long they helped her, at least they weren't trying to hurt her. She went to the bus station locker area, found her locker there, and pulled out her belongings. She changed her clothes into more casual outfit in the ladies room. While she was washing her hands, she caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror. She didn't recognize herself.

"Who are you?" She whispered sadly. "What happened to you?" She asked herself.

She kept asking herself those questions even when she boarded the bus back to Neptune.

Present

Veronica was surprised to see Logan in the gallery. She didn't expect him to be there, but then remembered that she asked him to come visit her gallery. They didn't realize that they were still hugging as they really enjoyed their bodies touching. They broke apart when Larissa cleared her throat and said, "Shall I make tea or coffee for Mr. Echolls, Ms. Mars?"

Veronica laughed while she wiped a tear from the corner of her eye, "Ah, yes. Thank you, Larissa. Logan, this is my assistant Larissa. Would you like something to drink?"

"Anything, Veronica." His voice was husky.

Veronica smiled, took his hand, and guided him to the guest area. It was a cozy private guest area with TV on the wall and many paintings. Veronica pointed out that sometimes people put their artworks or paintings in her gallery, and sometimes she put hers in theirs.

"We'll have some tea, Larissa." Veronica said to her assistant. Larissa nodded, glanced towards Logan, and then walked away. They were still holding hands; when Veronica released his hand, he felt bereft.

"So…" Logan sat next to her on the couch and looked at her appearance. She was wearing a shirt and black vest with skinny jeans. She was using minimal jewelry and her hair was in ponytail. Logan couldn't believe that she looked gorgeous even in simple clothes – she was so beautiful when she was wearing that cocktail dress. "Nice shindig you got here."

"Why, thank you Mr. Echolls." Veronica smiled brightly. "You cleaned up nicely too."

"What are you talking about? I always look this great." Logan made a show of straightened his jacket and posed.

Veronica rolled her eyes and looked at Logan. "You look… older."

"Jeez, Veronica. I'm not THAT old. I'm only 28! Same as you."

"I'm older than you, actually."

Logan shrugged. He looked at her; his eyes glimmering but Veronica thought the lights made those eyes glimmering. "You still look the same."

Veronica playfully hit Logan's arm. "Now you're mocking me."

"How the hell I'm mocking you? That's a compliment." He drank her appearance. "Although, yes – I see there are some wrinkles and crows' feet around those eyes…" He pointed to her eyes, and she swatted his hand, which made him laugh.

It was surreal – having her in front of him as if it was high school again. Logan expected some animosity from her or something. But maybe they had grown mature enough to act civil to each other. They weren't teenagers anymore. They were adults who apparently were able to have a decent conversation. Logan expected that she would be angry with him. Her friendliness surprised him. He didn't know that Veronica's heart was beating so fast; she remembered how she cried in the car when she saw him at the restaurant last weekend.

"I see you still have the wit." She shook her head. Logan just grinned as he watched her pout.

"It's really good to see you." They both smiled.

"So tell me about your life." Veronica began. Before Logan could say anything, Larissa brought them tea and some cookies.

She put the tray on the coffee table, "Here are some cookies for you." Larissa put a plate of cookies on the table. "Is there anything else I can bring? Ms. Mars?"

"No, Larissa. Thank you. You can go home now. I will close the gallery later." Veronica said to her assistant. Larissa nodded, glanced to Logan, and then left the waiting room. Logan watched her walked away while Veronica poured some tea to her cup.

"She's… interesting." Logan made a comment.

Veronica chuckled. "Let me guess: she gave you the cold shoulder."

"Something like that, yeah. This is weird, because most women adore me." Logan said. Veronica just smirked and chuckled hearing that. "What? That's a fact."

"Sure, sure." Veronica laughed easily. "Well, Larissa is…" Veronica wanted to say something diplomatic, but Logan cut her off.

"Cold? Bitchy? Sack of potatoes?"

"Hey! Be nice. She's a competent assistant." Veronica shrugged. "We're not friends or anything, but she's doing her job well."

"Yeah… either you have a super assistant or a busybody assistant."

Veronica smirked. "I see you've met Oliver; Mac's assistant." When Logan just looked at her in wide eyes, she winked. "Oh, come on Logan. I know you've been hanging out with Mac and Dick. Everyone saw you guys – I do keep tabs with Neptune Connection." Veronica snapped her fingers, "People had their status saying that they saw you around town."

"No kidding." Logan frowned. He guessed that was why the paparazzi knew that he was at Mac's office, because everyone reads Neptune Connection. "I didn't expect you to have a social media account."

"I need… to keep up with my family." Veronica cleared her throat and drank her coffee. "I haven't seen them for a while – you know how it is, been busy with work- so I follow them on Neptune Connection."

"I see."

"Some of my clients added me to Neptune Connection, so I have no choice. It's good for business anyway."

"Well, what's good for the gander…" Logan shrugged.

"It must be hard for you to be chased by those paps. I saw the video of you and Mac. I can't imagine how Mac would feel. How is she?"

"You saw that, huh?" Logan muttered. "She is fine." He tiredly reclined to his seat. "I just got back from her apartment. She's so stressed out."

"So… it's true that you're dating Mac?" She teased.

Logan rolled his eyes. "NO. She's a friend. Dick would kill me."

"Ah, Dick told you that he likes her?"

"You knew about him crushing on Mac?" Logan asked in surprised tone. "He didn't tell me at first, but I guessed."

"Yes, stealth is not Dick's virtue." She laughed. "We all knew that he liked her. But Mac is oblivious to the whole thing." She saw Logan make a face and asked, "What?"

"She has a crush on me." Logan expected Veronica to be shocked but she actually roared in laughter. "I don't see anything funny about it." He said in an offended tone. "I'm actually flattered – she's a pretty girl, but…"

"But what? She's single, you're single…"

"Yes, that's a common reason for people to get together." Logan said bitterly. Logan was surprised by how easy Veronica and he fell into their usual banter and conversation. They were laughing and talking in the guest room, sitting on the sofa, and drinking tea. Logan remembered how a few days ago she seemed like she wanted to run away from him; it was a bittersweet meeting between them. But now, it felt so… right.

"Or do you have a girlfriend? Some famous actress or a celebrity?" Veronica watched him from her cup as she drank her tea.

Logan shook his head. "Nope, I… well; believe it or not I haven't dated for a while."

"That's hard to believe." Veronica chuckled. "Mac is a wonderful woman. She's beautiful, talented…"

"And Dick would cut me in half if I looked at her the wrong way." Logan shrugged. "Besides, I've been busy with work and stuff…"

"I can see that. You're a famous director now."

"Not famous, no. Well known? Probably." He shrugged. "I mean, not everyone watched my movie. Only people who like to watch Indie movies, I guess." He grabbed a cookie. "Beside, I needed to make a name for myself, instead of being the son of a murderer and movie star."

Veronica put her cup on the table. "I… really liked your movie, Logan." He looked at her but didn't say anything. "Neptune Noir. That was… a really great film."

"Thanks…"

"That was really an amazing movie. I am so proud of you."

Logan widened his eyes. He was speechless when Veronica praised his movie. "You are… proud of me?"

Veronica ducked her head and cleared her throat, "Don't get big headed."

"No, I'm not." Logan sat up straight and looked at her. "I made that film for you…"

Veronica looked at him, not surprised. "Yeah, you wrote at the end of the credits: 'TO V''" She smiled. "Thank you. I am flattered."

Logan scooted closer to Veronica. "I wanted to say to you… that I made it. I mean, I finally made it. And it's all because of you." Veronica smiled hearing him. "When I was in the Army, I wrote the script every chance I could. It wasn't easy because I always being on the move with Tour of Duty. After I finished my time in the Army, I made that movie. It was for you, Veronica. You kept me sane all of these years."

Veronica chuckled, "I don't know about that, Logan…"

Logan scooted closer again, "No, it's true. I mean…" He frowned.

How could he explain this to her? That she was always on his mind? That she was the one who made him stronger?

He was about to explain when he caught her hand playing with her wedding ring on her finger. His heart suddenly went cold.

Veronica was married. She was a married woman. Anything he said would be translated the wrong way if he kept pushing.

"What?" Veronica asked him.

Logan blinked his eyes. "Uh…" He bit his lower lip. "I was thinking about you, Duncan… and Lilly when I wrote that movie. You are my connection to my past. And I wanted to… remember you all," he said softly. Veronica smiled and squeezed his hand, and Logan squeezed back. "You're my friend, Veronica. At least I still want to think that…" He said looking at her eyes.

"Logan, you will always be my friend." Veronica said. Logan looked at her wedding ring – it felt like it was mocking him. "I am happy that you're back. I miss you."

"Really?"

"Yeah, of course." Veronica assured him. "I haven't seen you, like, forever. Of course I'm happy that you're here."

"You're not going to hit my face for leaving without saying goodbye all of those years back then?" He asked – treading into a dangerous territory.

Veronica looked at him, didn't say anything at first, but she had a sad smile on her face. "No." They both went quiet and just sat there in the guest room while the jazz music was in the background. Veronica broke the awkward pause and asked, "You thought I'd be angry because you left without saying goodbye?"

Logan watched her expression carefully. "Not just you… I mean, Dick…"

Veronica held his hand again, which made Logan's heart beat fast. "Logan… It was a long time ago." She sighed. "It was… hard, yes. But we got through it, and we grew from it." Logan thought that her words echoed Dick's words. "Besides… friends come and go. But you're here now."

"That's the thing…" Logan muttered. "Okay, cards on the table." He stood up and paced around the room, while Veronica watched him. "I am sorry, Veronica."

"Huh?"

"I am so sorry…" Logan sat back on the couch and faced her. His hands were forming fists like he was trying to compose himself. "I am sorry that I left. It's been killing me for all these years that I left you and everyone else without saying anything. I… I couldn't face reality about what happened to you and everyone – I mean, it was a chaotic night; everything happened so fast and I was a stupid young boy – I still am, but I realized it was wrong of me to leave without saying goodbye or anything and not even telling you where I was. It doesn't mean that I didn't care… I cared and was scared at the same time that I would screw up everything. I thought I was going to lose my mind with Cassidy's death and Aaron's death on the same night, and at the moment I thought your dad died too. Then when he showed up in the kitchen, I was so relieved that I just thought it would be a good idea to leave both of you alone." Logan inhaled and said in a hurry, "I am sorry, Veronica. I'm sorry that I left. I'm sorry."

Logan stood up and walked away. He stood in front of a photograph of a beach, obviously upset. He missed a look of misery from Veronica, as she bit her lip and closed her eyes. And then she composed herself and put her mask back on. Logan turned around and saw her watching him.

"Logan…" Veronica stood up and walked towards him. She put a gentle hand on his, and said softly. "It's okay… There's nothing to apologize for. I never blamed you… You didn't do anything wrong." She said quietly. "You were just a boy back then… I could understand that."

Logan looked at her blue eyes. He held her hand tightly and looked at it. The wedding ring blinded him and he hated it. He wanted to pull the ring and chuck it to the other side of the room. "Well… I already apologized to Dick too. I mean, you both are my friends…. And I think it's long overdue."

"I'm happy that you're still friends with Dick." Veronica nodded. "Dick has been a great friend too." She smiled. "Dad thinks of Dick like a son... I mean, Wallace and Darrell are his sons now, but Dick is someone who is not related to him."

It gave Logan a tug in his heart. Keith never liked Logan when he was younger and dating his daughter. The last time they met properly, Logan erased Lilly and Aaron's sex tapes and Keith looked at him in disappointment. And now Dick was like a son to Keith… It seemed everything changed and he was outside a bubble, not really connecting with everyone.

"I'm glad… Dick was there for you."

"It wasn't easy." Veronica sighed. She pulled Logan back to the couch and they sat together. "Dick was a mess after Cassidy's death. He blamed himself, and he had no one. So… he stayed with us." Veronica smiled sadly remembering what happened. "It was kinda weird to see Dick in our small apartment. He slept on the couch for a month, and he was actually fine by it. Sometimes he stayed at the frat house in campus…. And then he moved in with Troy, do you remember him?"

"Troy Vandergraff, yeah I remember him." Logan looked at Veronica. "Your ex-boyfriend who was also a drug dealer." Logan rolled his eyes. "I went to Tijuana with him and Luke."

Veronica grimaced, "Yeah… You wouldn't believe it, but he changed a lot. I met him again during our senior year at campus tour, and he seemed to have turned into someone who you can depend on." She shrugged, "Which was why he and Dick were roommates for a while."

"What happened to him now?"

Veronica waved her hand, "Oh, he moved away to Europe but sometimes he comes back. He's very close with everyone."

"I am glad that you are being surrounded by friends and family. It's important to have them."

Veronica cleared her throat and looked away, "Yeah… well…" She looked at him, trying to read his expression whether he knew about the rift between her and her family. Veronica knew that Logan must've known somehow. A week in Neptune gave him a plenty of opportunity to find information. She didn't ask whether he knew, but deep down inside… she knew that he knew. "I dunno whether you heard the news about how dad was shot?"

"It was all over the news. I am so sorry to hear that." Logan held her hand in sympathy.

"He was very lucky that it was only paint-bullets…" Veronica gritted her teeth, and Logan could see that she was very upset. "Please don't tell Mac and Dick that I'm investigating this."

Logan frowned, "You are?"

"Yes."

There was finality in her tone, which worried Logan. Knowing her as an assassin, he wondered what she would do, what she was capable of, especially knowing that she just returned from wherever she was before, probably just assassinated someone. Logan could feel the 'killer' vibe from her… "What are you going to do?"

Veronica looked up to him and smirked, "The usual, Pinky." She rubbed her palms together.

Logan smiled, although his smile didn't reach his eyes. "What can I do to help?"

"What? Oh, no. You don't have to help me." Veronica shook her head.

"But I want to." Logan nodded. "Let me help as a form of apology that I left years ago."

"Logan…"

"Beside, it would be like the old times – but instead of you trying to get me outta trouble and proving my innocence from whatever crimes they are throwing at me, let me help you find you the people responsible for this malarkey."

Veronica snickered, which made Logan surprise. "Hmmph, did you say malarkey?"

"Apparently, I did." Logan laughed. They both laughed a while, and then the laughter died down when they remembered that the situation was a bit serious. "Wow, I haven't laughed like that for years." He looked at her, smiling. "I really miss… talking to you, Veronica."

"Me too."

"Let's have dinner." Logan blurted. Veronica widened her eyes when she heard that. "I mean, all of us – you, me, Dick, Mac, maybe Wallace. Just hangout." Logan backtracked quickly – he actually wanted to have dinner together with Veronica, but then he saw her reaction. And AGAIN, he saw her fiddling with her wedding ring. His heart clenched a little bit. "We can have our own mini reunion."

"That… would be great…Logan." She paused, "But… I don't know."

"What do you mean, you don't know?"

"It's complicated."

Logan didn't ask about her marriage to Gorya Sorokin, a notorious member of the Russian mafia, which made her a mobster's wife. He didn't ask her what happened a decade ago when she was in college… And dinner would lead to conversations that would open a floodgate that they would rather avoid. But apparently, the sore subject about Veronica's husband would come up anyway.

"I don't understand."

Veronica bit her lower lip and sighed. "Okay, cards on the table." She parroted his words before. "As long that we're being honest with each other…"

"Yeah?"

"If we're having dinner, I have to bring my husband."

But of course.

"Sure, I have no problem with that. Of course, you have to bring your husband. And…I…would…love…to…meet…him." Logan said through gritted teeth. "It…would be fun."

"It's not that, Logan…" She sighed again. "I'm sure by now you know who my husband is." Logan cleared his throat and reclined to his seat, but he didn't say anything. His silence confirmed her suspicion. "I'm married to Gorya Sorokin." Logan nodded slowly, but he was silent. Veronica grimaced, "I guess based on your silence, you know who I'm talking about." She opened her arms, "Let it rip."

"You think I'm gonna judge you?"

"Doesn't everybody?"

"Veronica…" He looked at her. "My ex-girlfriend slept with my father, and then my father killed her. My mother committed suicide by jumping off the Coronado Bridge. My father slept with my best friend's stepmother. I slept with my best friend's stepmother. My father was assassinated by unknown gunman. I held illegal bum fights rings. The list still goes on." Not to mention I'm a professional killer for hire, and I know that you're an assassin too. "I am sure that I'm way over my head for passing judgment to my friend."

Veronica smiled gratefully. "Thanks, Logan…"

"Look, Veronica. We can't help who we fall in love with." He blurted. "I mean…" He cleared his throat awkwardly. "I mean, you obviously… love your husband, that's why you married him. And who the hell am I to judge that?"

That was a lie, and he knew it. He didn't like the idea of Veronica married with someone else. She was supposed to marry him… If only he hadn't left… But his 'non-judgmental' words made Veronica smile anyway.

"That's a very nice thing to say, Logan…" She sighed. "But I'm afraid other people won't have the same thoughts as you." She reclined to her seat. "Wallace, especially."

"Wallace?"

"He hates my husband." She said shortly. "Not that I can blame him… Gory's family…and my family… aren't really seeing eye to eye. I mean, I'm the daughter of the sheriff of this town. And Gory is…" She pursed her lips. "Well, you know."

What Logan knew about Gorya from Mac's story was that he ordered his men to beat up Wallace and threatened Keith Mars. And yet, Veronica was oblivious about the whole thing. There was no way Veronica would forgive Gorya if she found out about the whole thing. She would leave him in a heartbeat. EVERYBODY knew about this, but NOBODY wanted to say anything because they were too afraid of him and his mafia family. So Veronica was in the dark about her husband.

Logan found it difficult to comprehend that Veronica did not know about this. She was a super detective back in the day – so why was she clueless about her husband? And how the hell did she became an assassin?

Logan wanted to tell her about her husband and how he manipulated her, but he realized it was not his place to say anything. What would Veronica say if he 'accused' her husband of hurting her family? Logan realized that there must be something wrong if Veronica didn't even realize what was happening to her family.

"Were you going to the reunion if it wasn't canceled?" Logan asked quietly.

"Yes…" She answered, and then she chuckled. "It's funny how much I hated high school and vowed never to see it anymore or even see the people again… And yet I was going to the reunion. I don't know why..."

"Whether you like it or not, Veronica Mars… you do have friends." Logan said. She smiled and closed her eyes. Logan watched her and had an urge to touch her hair.

"It's Sorokin now." She opened her eyes and looked at Logan. "Mars is my professional name. But I'm Veronica… Sorokin now."

It rang false in his ears hearing her saying her name like that. She was always Veronica Mars. Logan wondered whether she used Lamb's last name when she was married to him.

"I guess I will always look at you as this little feisty girl with a Greek God warrior name, wearing boots, and holding a taser." Both of them chuckled.

"That was a long time ago…" She said. "I don't do that much." Veronica stood up and twirled in the room, basically showing off her workplace. The whole thing mesmerized Logan as he watched her laughed. "My weapon is my camera now."

Really? Logan remembered what happened in New York recently. Either Veronica was an accomplished liar or she was trying to tell herself that she wasn't. "So… what are you going to do with… you know, investigating your dad's shooting? You just said that you don't do the whole sleuthing thing anymore."

"I don't do sleuthing much." She corrected him. "But I will do anything to help him find the people who are responsible."

"Let me help you." Logan said.

"Logan…"

"Hey, look – you're looking at an Army soldier here. I can kick some asses."

Veronica smiled and then sat back again, this time a little bit closer to him. "Tell me about the army." Logan looked at her, surprised. "What was it like?"

Logan exhaled and rested his head on the head of the couch. "Tough. It was tough as hell. But… at the same time it kinda gave me some focus, you know?"

"Were you at war?"

"Tour of duty, mostly. I went to South America, Middle East, and so on. They told me to follow orders, so I followed. I slept in a barrack, carried some weapons, cooked, cleaned…"

Veronica rested her head too on the head of the couch. "You know that would make a good movie: a spoiled rich brat going to the army."

"I think they already made that movie. It's called 'Private Benjamin' starring Goldie Hawn. Believe me, I wished I was blonde and petite sometimes." Veronica hit his arm, and he laughed. He was looking at her and she was looking at him. "Let me help. Come on, Veronica."

"I really don't want you to get involved, Logan."

"Sometimes you really need to let your friends help you." He looked at her. "And not just for favors."

Veronica sighed. "I shouldn't have told you about this."

"Well, it's too late. I promise I won't tell anyone, especially Dick and Mac." He raised his hand. "I'm a soldier. I will follow your order."

She giggled and saluted, "Private Logan."

"Captain Veronica." He saluted back.

Veronica sighed again, "I guess I would need some help. Beside, this would benefit Darrell too."

"Darrell? Wallace's brother, right? Your step-brother?"

"Darrell… believe it or not, is an amateur detective."

"Like you were before!" Logan exclaimed. "Wow, that's fantastic."

"Darrell goes to Neptune High, and Clemmons asked him to investigate this prank that happened in the school, you know; kid stuff like the gym being TP'ed and so on. Then suddenly, someone used Cassidy's name to paint bomb the whole school. Now add this whole thing with The Mayor and that shooting. I think it's all connected, I don't know what or who, but I will find out about this. I have to help him. Clemmons fired him, and it seems dad doesn't want him to get involved." Veronica frowned. "Darrell is upset right now because dad and Clemmons told him to stop."

"They're worried about his safety, you do know that right?" Veronica didn't answer at first. She rested her head on the head of the couch, looked at the ceiling and went quiet for a while. The jazz music was still playing in the background. "Veronica?"

"Yeah…" She nodded. "I understand why they had to fire Darrell." She still looked at the ceiling. "But… I need to do this. For my dad… and for Darrell."

Logan scooted closer to her. Their arms touched but Veronica didn't react. She seemed deep in her thoughts. He nudged her slowly, and she looked at him, smiling. Somehow Logan felt that her smile was a mask, trying to cover what was really inside. "Hey… are you okay?"

"Yeah… it's just…" She looked at him. "It's surreal to have you here, you know? Can you believe it has been a decade since we met? How come you never call?"

Logan lowered his head and pursed his lips. The dreaded question about why he had never returned to Neptune after the Army. Even Dick seemed to avoid this question. "I was a coward."

"Oh, Logan…"

"No, hear me out." He faced her and held her hands. "I actually called several times… Thanksgiving, Christmas… every major holidays and weekends…"

"What? I never…"

"And every time I called… I hung up."

Veronica looked at him in sympathy. It took a lot of courage to face the past, and Logan was really afraid apparently. "Logan…"

"I wrote letters… but I never posted them. I wrote emails… but I never sent them. I called… but I hung up whenever someone picked up the phone. I was just so… scared. I was scared that you and Dick…you know, would be angry at me… which you should – and I lost all the connection I have from my past…." He looked at her eyes, which looked at his in sympathy. "I mean, I have no parents and family. Lilly is gone. Duncan is gone – I tried looking for him; I hired private detectives but they couldn't find him and his daughter. And then Dick's mom lived in Europe, and I saw her once in France or something, and she looked happy with her new family. I didn't say hi to her, because I didn't think she remembered me. I wanted to ask her about Dick, but somehow I knew she didn't care." Logan sighed. "That's the Neptune curse for us."

Veronica didn't say anything. She wanted to avoid this conversation. But she realized that she needed to face her past sooner or later, right? The moment she met Logan at that restaurant, she realized that her past was catching up with her.

"Yeah… Dick hardly talks to his parents."

"His dad is back, right?"

"Yes… Mr. Casablancas came back a few years ago after spending some time in prison. He turned himself in to the authorities and faced all charges. He's involved with 'The Projects' now."

"The Projects? What's that?"

"Public housing – he and the mayor are working together to provide affordable housing for those who can't afford a home."

"Big Dick is doing charity work?"

"Not really…" She sighed. "He's been trying to get into Dick's good graces these several years. After he got released from prison, Mr. Casablancas endorsed Mayor Alphonse Gonzales to get elected – probably to gain sympathy so he could return to the grace of Neptunians, especially 09ers."

"Did it work?"

"Sorta. He may not be as rich and powerful as he used to, but he gets by… like it or not, Mr. Casablancas is a very good businessman; and he and Dick sometimes work together on real estate projects."

Logan nodded. Dick never told him this – that he was working together with his dad. Then again, Dick wasn't as open as he used to. And why would he tell all of this to a friend he only just met after a decade? "I tried… you know…" Logan quietly said. "But it seems every time I was about to contact you… my cowardice-ness won."

"You're not a coward, Logan." Veronica sat closer to him. "What you did… a decade ago… on top of the Grand… that was heroic. You saved me." Logan looked up to her. Damn it, why had she said that? He wanted to kiss her now. But he couldn't. "You told me not kill…Cassidy. I don't know what I would have done if you weren't there." She slowly held his hand again. "So thank you… for that."

And yet… she's an assassin now, Logan thought bitterly. "You thought that he killed your dad…"

"But he didn't. It was… fate. If only Don…" She stopped herself and looked away.

If only Lamb told Keith to take the plane instead, Logan thought. In some cosmic ironic way, the universe was telling everyone that Don Lamb saved Keith Mars unintentionally. If Lamb wasn't being an asshole, then Keith Mars would perish along with Woody Goodman and several others in that plane. But fate intervened, and Keith Mars was alive.

"Veronica… I feel like that we're going to spill our guts here." Logan said. "And if you're not ready, I don't want to do it either."

Veronica looked at him, and then surprised him when she put her arms around his neck and hugged him. He hugged her back. "Thank you, Logan."

They were hugging on that couch for a while – both refusing to let go.

Downtown Neptune

"What are they doing?" Dante asked while closing his eyes in the passenger seat of their surveillance car.

"They're hugging." Gabriel answered in a bitter tone. He was watching them through thermal scope.

"Oh boy."

"Who the hell is this guy?"

"Logan Echolls – you read her jacket. He was her boyfriend when she was in high school."

"Ugh, were they serious?"

"I don't think so. They were dating during the summer or something. He saved her from that Casablancas kid though." Dante lazily explained. "It seems she likes bad boys."

"Yeah, yeah, I read her jacket. He disappeared and joined the army or some shit."

"Don't get jealous, Gabe. Friends do hug, you know?" He opened one eye and teased Gabriel. "Do you want me to hug you?"

"You're not my friend."

"I'm hurt." Dante said in a mocking tone.

"I just hope her husband doesn't catch her hugging her 'friend'. Her husband is a jealous bastard."

"You know, I'm surprised that she still has the energy to entertain her friend. She just whacked that Triad lawyer today."

"Almost blew it if we didn't help her."

"Yeah, wassup with that? She was so reckless – she didn't check the perimeter; she didn't have an exit strategy or anything. We had to shoot those poor bastards to help her."

"When you were following her to the bus station again, I went to the restaurant. Apparently, some of the exits weren't available. Boss didn't update his exit plan to her."

"Well, she was suppose to check first whether it was available or not."

"I don't understand why we have to let her kill all of these mob lawyers. Why can't we do it?"

"Because boss wants her to do the job."

"Why?"

"Because she's efficient and a cold blooded killer." Dante paused. "Just like her husband..."

"Two peas in the same pod."

"You got it."

Aphrodite Gallery

They were still hugging in the couch; both of them were afraid of letting each other go. Logan remembered how Veronica used to be his friend – how he had fallen in love with her when he saw her in that soccer uniform when he was 12 years old. He never stopped loving her. Lilly might be his first puppy love, but Veronica would always be his first true love.

Veronica released him and wiped a tear from the corner of her eye. "Huh. You think I'm a girly girl, right? Being emotional like this?" She exhaled. "It's been a long day."

"I promise I won't tell anyone." Logan said and Veronica chuckled quietly. "We don't have to talk about anything, Veronica. I'm… I'm just glad that we're all right and I get to see you again after all these years. We can talk about stuff next time…" He looked at her. "If you still wanna see me."

"Yeah… I'd love that." She smiled. "We should… hang out."

"Your… husband… should hang out with us too." Logan said lamely. He didn't expect Veronica would laugh.

"That's okay. I will tell him I'm hanging out with an old friend."

"He would be okay with it?"

Veronica shrugged, "Why wouldn't he be?"

Because your husband is an asshole who beat up his wife's brother and threatened her family so he could have you for himself, Logan thought bitterly. But he didn't say anything, just smiled knowingly. Veronica was definitely clueless about her husband – it was something that he couldn't understand. But now was not the time to expose Gorya… Logan had to handle this predicament carefully. He had to fix his friendship with Veronica first… and maybe fixed her relationship with her family. And then when the time comes… he would tell her about Gorya. Dick and Mac would probably be against this, but he had no intention to tell them about it.

"I'm so glad that you're okay with me being here, Veronica."

"You're my friend, Logan. My oldest friend…" She put her head on his chest, and he hugged her very tightly. "I'm just glad that I have my friend back." Veronica sighed and enjoyed the embrace. "I miss all my friends."

"What do you mean? You have Mac and Dick, and Wallace…" He inhaled slowly her scent.

Veronica closed her eyes. "Yes." She said shortly, but did not elaborate. Logan knew that she didn't tell the truth about everyone – how she thought her family and friends shunned and disowned her. He wanted to say that it wasn't true… but something like this had to be handled delicately.

Sometimes truth hurts.

Logan also needed to find out about her 'side job' as an assassin. Who hired her? What made her be an assassin?

They released their embrace and looked at each other. And then they both smirked; those smirks that they perfected – those little tales-tell signs of mischief from both of them. "Glad to be here." Logan said. Both he and Veronica grinned as they hugged again.

Ganymede Apartment

"Is this the place?" Boris looked up to the apartment building. He looked around and scanned the area. Gorya was still nursing his hurting jaw. "Should we bring everyone there?"

"Nah, just the two of us. We don't want to freak out the girlfriend."

"What if he's not there?" Boris asked about Kieran.

"Then we leave."

"What about the girlfriend? Should we leave her?"

"Ugh, we need Kieran only to give back the money and the dope." Gorya looked at the names of the tenants. Boris mumbled something and Gorya looked at him. "What?"

"I said your brothers are making you as their…"

"Careful, Boris." Gorya said and then pressed many buzz buttons on the tenants list. The door immediately opened. He shook his head and walked in with Boris who signaled other bodyguards to stand guard outside. "What a great place." He muttered.

"You don't have to do this, you know?" Boris said to Gorya as they walked into the apartment building. "You can always order Yegor or Lancelot or me, for crap's sake." Boris said exasperatedly. "No need to prove something to your brothers…"

"Will you just shut the fuck up?" Gorya said to his enforcer slash bodyguard slash friend. "Let's just get the money and the dope and get out of here."

"You're a fucking businessman now, Gory – boss. You're the CEO of your company. This is servants' job like me. I was gonna say something when we went to River Styx, but you were all gung-ho about everything."

"Oh, for crying out loud." Gorya ignored Boris' protest, stood in front of an apartment, and rang the doorbell. After a while, someone opened a door and a woman with red hair and a neck cast stood in front of them.

"Yes?"

"You must be Trina." Gorya greeted her as he looked at her battered appearance. She had a hand cast and neck cast, her face was full of bruises, and her lip was cut. "Kieran's girlfriend. May we come in?"