A/N: So, I really was working on two different versions of this chapter and as a final hour decision I decided on this one. Maybe at the end, I will upload a "chapter" of deleted/alternate scenes for this story. There are a few minor things that still bugged me about this, though, that seem a little ooc, but, I think need to be there to progress the story a bit/bring them together. Anyway, I hope you enjoy this one because I like it. Oh, also, I don't think I've explicitly stated this, but Keith Mars (in this fic) didn't win the election for sheriff. I keep trying to put stuff in about that and then think it is irrelevant and remove it, but I have things in mind where this may come to play later, so just store that little nugget o knowledge in the back of your brains for a bit. One last thing: the next chapter (five) I love to pieces, for reals. It's still rough and needs editing, but the fun level of it makes me so happy and I really hope you guys will enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. That is all.

Chapter 4: Burning Truth

Veronica sat in the kitchen, her books spread across the table, working on a paper while her dinner cooked in the oven. She didn't even want to begin thinking about working on the presentation with Logan. Perhaps she could just do it herself while he spent the weekend doing God knows what in Tijuana.

It wasn't until she noticed Backup sitting in front of the door growling did she remove her headphones to hear the knock on the door. With a sigh she stood and answered the door to find Logan outside. "Is this a better time?" he asked, leaning against the door frame.

She moved aside and allowed him to enter, crossing her arms, "I thought you'd be halfway to Mexico by now." Her tone was flat; this wasn't a game.

He moved around, taking in the appearance of the space even though he had been there hundreds of times before. "I came back from class pissed off because of our fight and Dick wouldn't let me go. He didn't want my bad mood to ruin the trip so they left without me. Happy now?"

"Ecstatic," Veronica snapped, sarcastically, "now, if there isn't anything else you'd like to blame me for, I have a paper that could really use my attention." It was at that precise moment the timer on the oven decided to go off, reminding her of the dinner she was preparing.

Veronica walked around him, allowing her arms to fall to her sides, as she made her way over to the oven to take her dinner out. Such a simple task was ruined by her anger when she burned her hand on the hot oven, not paying attention. Cursing under her breath, she dropped the dish and the towel she used (in place of an oven mitt) on the stove before inspecting her injury.

Logan's first instinct was to help her; kiss it and make it better. He moved closer to her, taking her injured hand into his own to assess her injury before leading her to the bathroom in search of burn cream. It wasn't a serious injury, but Logan refused to take any chances.

She returned to the kitchen when he finished fussing over her; her hand wrapped in gauze, perhaps an overzealous first-aid attempt. "Well, since you're here, do you want to have dinner and work on our presentation?" she asked, again busying herself in the kitchen, her voice deflated. Not even two days after their conversation and they were already fighting. Even though she sometimes had trouble admitting it to herself, she secretly wanted them to work.

"What's the real reason, Ronnie?" he asked, using an old nickname. Maybe if they were to get past this, they needed to actually start resolving fights instead of sidestepping them by breaking up. She handed him a plate and he followed her to the couch; obviously he was staying.

Veronica ate silently for a moment before acknowledging his question, "reason for what? Asking you to stay for dinner? Sorry to burst that bubble, Logan, but I'm not actually trying to get you into bed." For the first time that evening she allowed herself to smile at her own wit. Sometimes she could really amuse herself.

Dinner was delicious, simple, but delicious. He hadn't realized how much he missed home-cooked foods until that moment and thought maybe he should make more of an effort to cook. "What do you have against Mexico?" he clarified, taking another bite. Man, she could cook.

They sat in silence for another moment. Anyone watching would have fast-forwarded the conversation by now. "I can't bail you out anymore, Logan," she said finally. "Let's be honest, you don't have the best track record when it comes to trips to Mexico: Mercer and Troy and…" Lilly's death: the unfinished thought that stopped at her lips. She couldn't bring that up.

She didn't have to; he understood what she was getting at. "I know they start out innocent enough," Veronica continued when he said nothing, "but somehow things just always happen and I just can't help you if something happened this time."

"So basically," Logan finally responded, "you need to work on trusting me more…" he held up a finger to halt her protests before taking a breath to finish his sentence, "and I need to work on being more trustworthy." For the first time that evening, she agreed with him, and with that resolution they were able to enjoy their food and make significant progress on their presentation.

A/N: So the box right below this really loves attention, almost as much as the original Lilly Kane. Seriously. So, maybe you could honor her a bit and show it a little love. You guys are awesome.