A/N: Here's another fun little fluffy chapter. Also, it is another game night. And I know, I've already done a game night. But. It really bugs me when shows introduce a "thing" as a regularly occurring event and then never mention it again. Drives me crazy. If its so regular and your characters do it all the time, why don't they ever do it again after the first mention of it? End rant. Anyway. So, I don't necessarily ship Wallace/Parker and that really wasn't the intention of putting them together in this chapter, though if that is how you want it to play out in your own heads, by all means, go for it. It was more of I already established Mac as Dick's "special game night friend" and Wallace and Parker were just kind of left over, so they had to be teamed together. That's just how the cookie crumbles sometimes.

Chapter 16: Life's Shooting Stars

"So, it looks like we don't have all of the pieces," Mac laughed, looking into the box of LIFE on game night. Actually, what she was missing were the little cars. Everything else was in order. "My brother must have gotten into this," she rationalized, rolling her eyes, "we only have three cars. Teams?" she suggested as a solution. She would have to yell at her brother when she returned the game.

Game night was being hosted by Mac and Parker that month, with Mac choosing the game. The six looked around the room, "I call Mackie!" Dick shouted, grabbing her around the waist and picking her up, catching her off guard. "We're going to retire in Millionaire Estates, baby!" he exclaimed, putting her down to sit with him. Logan and Veronica looked to each other, not saying a word, but silently agreeing to be partners. This would be interesting.

That left Wallace and Parker, since Piz was conveniently "busy" on this particular evening. Or at least, that was the excuse Wallace gave when he showed up alone to Mac and Parker's door. No one seemed to mind that he wasn't there. Once everyone agreed on teams, they began "re-writing" the rules to allow for doubled play.

"So, basically," Mac said to clarify, "the same standard rules apply, we each pick a job and a salary and get paid on payday, but we travel in the same car, share a turn, and follow the spaces as a unit. So, if you land on baby girl," she pointed to the space, "you get one child. If you land on skiing accident, you pay once. So, let's begin!"

Soon the six were having a blast moving around the board, alternating turns, collecting money and taking on the mundane. Everyone found it a lot more enjoyable to be on teams, except maybe Dick. Mac had forced his little blue peg person to ride in the very backseat of their joint car, while her pink peg person "drove." Everyone else chose a standard configuration of the couple in the front-most two seats, although Parker had distinctively placed her pink peg-person in the driver's seat.

"What?" she asked at the amused looks, "I don't have a car here. This is probably the only time I'll get to drive in the state of California. Cut a girl a break," she defended herself and Wallace threw up his hands in surrender. He didn't mind where his little peg-person sat.

With the next spin, Mac and Dick landed on "baby girl" and started their collection of children. "I'm going to name her Mary Jane," Dick said, seriously, watching Mac add a pink peg-person to their car. His choice in names caused a few chuckles from the room and Mac to roll her eyes.

Next Parker spun, landing on "Found Buried Treasure, Collect $80,000," with their little car. She smiled and paid out $80,000 to herself before Veronica spun for her and Logan's turn.

"Twins," Veronica read off the space on her and Logan's next turn, the memory of only a few weeks ago still fresh in her mind. However, since they hadn't told anyone else about that incident, she kept face and turned to Logan, "what would you like, dear, two boys? Two girls?"

Logan knew that struck a nerve and placed a hand on her back, rubbing comforting circles, "let's go with one of each. We can name all of them Logan, Jr." he said, trying to turn the situation back to humorous with a joke. Why not name all of his children after himself?

"All of them are going to be named Logan, Jr.?" she asked, trying not to laugh, "what are you, George Foreman?"

He winked at her, "Fine, we can name one of them Nemo, but I'd like most of them to be Logan, Jr." Logan knew she had seen Finding Nemo at least a dozen times and would immediately get the reference.

She gently shoved him, "for that, none of our children are going to be Logan, Jr." Veronica placed the tiny plastic people in the middle row of their car, glad that things weren't going to be awkward about the scare from the summer. They both knew they weren't ready for kids. They had discussed that, and yet, they're alter-selves in the game were apparently ready to have several.

Soon Mac and Dick ended up with a full car of plastic people, and Mac still refused to move Dick to the front seat, opting for one of their "daughters" to sit next to her instead. "Anymore kids and Dick's going to have to get out and walk," Mac declared with a laugh as she spun.

Moving her car along the road she looked down at the space she landed on, "Summer School, Pay $5,000 per child." She couldn't help but laugh before looking over to Dick, "Those must be your genes at play, dear." Mac then counted out the $20,000 for four fake-children to attend summer school.

Wallace and Parker were having the opposite issue: they had yet to land on a single space to give them a child. Not that they really minded, since it was just a game and had no actual effect on their life outcomes, but it was an interesting contrast. "Buy season tickets, pay $10,000," Parker read then looked to Wallace. Of course it would be Wallace that would "want" season passes. Wallace in turn smiled at her and handed over the cash.

This turn, Logan spun and moved the car along the game board. "Visit Grand Canyon, collect a Life tile," he read off the space, "You know, I've always wanted to go there." He picked up on of the Life tiles and added it to their stack. "We should go sometime," he said, looking at Veronica, who nodded. Well, the Grand Canyon was certainly a step up from Mexico, so she'd take it.

With a few more turns, Wallace and Parker landed on "Become grandparents," which was quite amusing, due to their lack of "children." Either way, they took their Life tile and let Logan and Veronica have their turn. They were also nearing the finish when they landed on "Pension, collect $20,000 times spin." Mac and Dick were further behind everyone else, having gotten mostly low spins all game and still needed to catch up.

However, at the end of the game, it did come down to Mac and Dick versus Logan and Veronica to see who won overall. Wallace and Parker had chosen to retire modestly in Countryside Acres. It was quite the interesting twist, considering Dick and Logan were the richest people in the room. After careful counting and then recounting, it was declared an official tie. How did that happen?

It didn't matter as much after clean-up, since everyone enjoyed themselves and had a good time, and then it was time to go. Dick was going to meet Logan back at their house while Logan walked Veronica to her car, knowing all too well what could happen at Hearst after dark.

"Look!" she pointed up to the sky, stopping mid-stride. Logan stopped next to her and looked to where she was pointing.

Across the sky was a shooting star, probably one of the most beautiful sights either of them had ever seen, "make a wish," Logan said, thinking of all of those sayings about wishing on a shooting star.

I wish things would work out with Logan this time, she wished, looking at the star crossing the sky.

Logan watched the star for a moment before making his own wish: I wish things would work out with Veronica this time.

She took his hand and gave it a light squeeze as they watched the star complete its journey across the sky. The pair waited for the star to leave their sight before continuing on their way to her car. "What did you wish for?" he asked as her vehicle became visible.

"If I tell you, it won't come true," she said with a light laugh.

Logan shook his head, "or, if you tell me, I'll make it come true." He had millions; he could buy her anything she wanted, and whatever she wanted, he would give to her.

She frowned, "Logan, you know that isn't why I like you, right? I don't care about your money or the power or the connections or whatever. It's not important to me." They were facing each other now, just a few steps away from her car. Sure, she loved that he could make all of her dreams come true with his influence, but it wasn't necessary. Veronica could be just as happy if Logan didn't have money.

He really wasn't used to people befriending him or liking him without an ulterior motive, but with Veronica, he knew it was true. If all of his money vanished tomorrow, he knew that their relationship would remain unchanged, which was actually quite comforting. "I know," he responded with a smile, "but that doesn't stop me from wanting to give you everything you desire. In fact, it makes me want to do it more."

Veronica looked up at him before placing a light kiss on his lips, "thank you. I wish I could just stay here with you, watching the stars all night, but my dad is home and he's expecting me soon. Plus, I have work in the morning; college doesn't pay for itself." She sighed with disappointment. It certainly would have been nice to stay out a little longer with Logan, but she wasn't a millionaire and actually did have to work.

He nodded in understanding, pulling her closer for one final, passionate kiss before releasing her and allowing her to get to her car. Logan stood by and waited until she was safely in the driver's seat, seatbelt on, doors locked and driving away before turning to head to his own car. Perhaps it was finally time to take the leap of faith?

A/N: So, I'm really trying for my 20 chapter goal, but I'm thinking I may come in a little short. Also, who doesn't love LoVe wishing on a shooting star? Some days I am secretly a hopeless romantic. Some days I'm not. And the only way I can honestly see getting to my 20 chap goal is to produce another argument. But honestly, I think I've covered most everything I can think of that they would fight over. Just me thinking out loud a little. Reviews are awesome, and as some of you are quite familiar with by now, I do read each and every one of them and occasionally respond because you're totally worth it. Uh... did this just become a L'Oreal commercial?