Author's Note: Just to note that I'll be keeping the main plot points of MKAT the same, in terms of Veronica's case, but I wanted to expand on Logan and Veronica's scenes and their relationship in the book, so that will be my main concentration, with the case taking a backseat.

Chapter Two

"Hey, man."

Logan looks up from the notes he's writing up in relation to the jet he tested all morning to find Chaos leaning against the doorframe of his small office. His squadron-mate has also been assigned to the Fleet Readiness Center for shore rotation, so they've been working together a lot lately.

"Hey, what's up?"

"You up for a drink in the I-Bar?" asked Chaos, sauntering into the office and taking a seat in the chair in the corner. "Sarah has her fitness class tonight, so I don't have to get home just yet, and I've barely seen you outside of work the last few weeks."

"Sure," he says, reaching for his cell. "Let me just…"

"Checking with the missus?" Chaos grins.

"No," Logan shoots back with narrowed eyes, as he sends a quick text to Veronica. "She's working late tonight. Just letting her know I might not be home when she gets in."

He tidies his paperwork, then joins Chaos as they head over to the bar. Logan doesn't really think about what he said until his friend brings it up over a drink a few minutes later.

"So, home, huh?" Chaos asks, taking a swig of beer.

"What?" Logan frowns.

"Earlier, you said you might not be 'home' when Veronica gets back." Chaos grins. "All I can say is, damn, you move fast."

"It's not like that." Logan shakes his head. "I've just been staying with her in Neptune the last few weeks. Nothing official, we're just seeing where things go."

"And making up for lost time, I bet."

"That, too," he agrees.

"So, it's going well?"

"Yeah." Logan can't stop himself from smiling as he nods, his thoughts drifting to the easy, drama-free routine he and Veronica have fallen into since he got home. "Yeah, it is."

Chaos claps a hand against his back. "Good going, man."

"Yeah." He nods. "You know, I wasn't expecting it to be this easy, being with her again."

At Chaos' questioning look, he elaborates.

"We don't exactly have the best track record when it comes to relationships. Normally, it's all death and destruction and life-threatening situations… but this time, it's just us, finding our feet. These days, we're just arguing over what to have for dinner, or who gets the TV remote. It's kind of weird."

Chaos chuckles, shaking his head as he lifts his beer to his lips again.

"What?"

"Nothing. Just… you're the only person I know who thinks there's something wrong if there isn't any drama or heartbreak in his relationship." Chaos smiles. "Just enjoy it, man. Embrace the domestic bliss while—"

"While it lasts?" Logan finishes knowingly.

"No." The look Chaos shoots him is verging on exasperated. "While you have the chance to. You're on shore rotation, you're gonna be home for 18 months. Make the most of it."

"Yeah." Logan nods slowly. "Yeah, you're right. It's just… it's like I'm waiting for something to go wrong."

"Well, if you think like that, it probably will," says Chaos reasonably. "I mean it, Mouth. Don't look a gift horse in the… well, you know."

"Yeah…"

Chaos is right, as usual. He has to stop assuming the worst and start embracing what he has. 'Cause fuck, what he has right now is pretty fucking incredible.

"Hey, you and Veronica coming to the squadron dining-in night next Friday?" Chaos changes the subject.

Logan sits up. "Shit, I forgot about that."

"Names have to be in by tomorrow afternoon," Chaos reminds him.

"Well, I'm in, but I don't know about Veronica," he says. "She doesn't seem too interested in embracing the military life."

Chaos frowns. "She's not supportive?"

"No, it's not that." Logan shakes his head. "She won't admit it, but I think she's intimidated. She likes to be in situations where she's in control, where she has the upper hand—"

"Sounds kinky." Chaos interrupts with a smirk, lifting his beer to his lips. "Bet she's great in the sack."

"Fuck off," Logan retorts, shooting him a bemused look. "I'm serious. It freaks her out when she has no control over her surroundings." He shrugs. "She has her reasons."

"I'm sure she does," Chaos says seriously. "Look, Sarah and I will be there too; I'm sure we can work something out with the seating chart. And you know my wife's just dying to meet 'the girl who's finally captured your heart'—her words, not mine."

"Yeah."

Logan considers this for a moment. He hasn't pushed for Veronica to attend Navy-related events because he knows she's not comfortable with them, but truth be told, he would love it if she took more of an interest in his career. He wants to be able to share his military life with her, to show her this side of him as well as the regular Logan.

"You're right. I'll talk to her tonight."

"Great." Chaos smiles. "So now that's sorted, on to more pressing matters. You got your bets in for the soccer sweepstakes yet?"

The lights are still on when Logan lets himself into Veronica's apartment later that evening, which means she's still awake. He kicks off his boots and tugs the top half of his flight suit down, letting it drop to his waist, as he makes his way through the apartment. He finds her sitting up in bed, clad in one of his shirts, laptop perched on her knees and papers strewn across the bed. Her hair is pulled up in a messy bun, face scrubbed clean of make-up, and her brow is furrowed in concentration as she types.

"Hey," he says, leaning in the doorway.

She looks up in surprise, a smile spreading across her face. "Oh, hey."

"What's all this?" He asks, crossing the room and taking a seat on the edge of the bed. "Thought you said 'no cases in the bedroom'?"

"No, what I said was 'no discussing cases in the bedroom'," she replies, turning back to the screen. "I'd rather not contaminate our private time with other people's infidelities. Besides, you were out, and the bed is more comfortable than the kitchen stools."

He nods, watching her work for a moment, before saying, "So, you about done for the night?"

"Almost," she says distractedly, still typing. "Just gimme a few more minutes."

"Okay, well, I'm gonna get washed up." He slides off the bed. "Back in a minute."

In the bathroom, he pulls off the rest of his flight suit, before dropping his t-shirt and socks in the laundry basket in the corner. When he's washed and done, he returns to the bedroom… where Veronica is still working, flicking through notes and frowning at the screen.

"You still not done yet?" he asks, depositing his flight suit over the chair and then tugging off his boxers and slipping into the bed beside her. She doesn't even look up.

She grimaces. "Nearly… there's got to be something I'm missing here, but I can't figure out what it is."

"Can I help?"

"No," she says, not looking up at him. "It's okay. I'll figure it out eventually."

He smirks. "You think maybe you could figure it out tomorrow?"

"Just a sec…"

"Veronica?" he says teasingly.

"What?" she asks absently.

"I would seriously advise you stop working now." He leans in, mouth close to her ear. "Or your gonna miss out on some fucking incredible orgasms."

That gets her attention. Her eyes snaps to his, then lower to his bare torso, her gaze turning hungry.

She swallows, then clears her throat. "Uh, well, if you insist."

She snaps the laptop shut, then quickly gathers up the notes and papers, shoving them into a pile and sliding them and the laptop onto the bedside table. When she turns to him, there's a wicked glint in her eye.

She slides onto his lap, straddling his thighs, and Logan's eyes widen when he realises she isn't wearing any underwear.

"You've been sitting there, almost completely naked, this whole time?" he wonders, his hand slipping under the hem of the shirt and palming one butt cheek, giving it a teasing squeeze, before running his palm up her back and round to cup her breast. "How can you even concentrate?"

"With a lot of skill and practice," she says solemnly. "It's an art form."

She moves in to kiss him, her mouth warm and inviting against his, and he responds eagerly.

"So, how was your day?" she asks, her voice breathy, when they part. "How were drinks with Chaos?"

"Eh, it was okay." He nods, letting one hand drift up and down her back absently. "Spent the morning testing one of the jets for faulty warning lights, then the afternoon writing it all up in a report. Fun times. But Chaos is good."

He almost mentions the formal squadron dinner next Friday night, but he bites his tongue for now, knowing he has to choose his moment, when she's more likely to be receptive to the idea… perhaps after a round of head-spinning sex.

"Good."

"So… you're here, I'm here, we're practically naked… what shall we do with ourselves?"

"Well, you did mention something about giving me fucking incredible orgasms," she reminds him, walking her fingers down over his stomach. His abdominal muscles clench, heat shooting to his groin. "Though you've been doing an awful lot of that lately. I think it must be my turn." She shifts off him. "Lie down."

He smirks, breathing quickening in anticipation. "That an order or a request?"

"It's an order, Lieutenant."

"Roger that." He nods, giving a cheeky salute.

He slides down so he's lying back against the pillows, his hands coming to Veronica's hips when she moves atop him once more. She leans down, pressing her mouth to his in a heated kiss, then murmurs against his lips, "Just lie back and think of England."

"Oh, no, baby," he responds, bringing his hand up to cup the back of her neck. "I'll be thinking of nothing but you."

"Baby?" She lifts her head a little, nose scrunched up in amused distaste. "Please don't say that, it's weird."

Logan affects a pout. "Aw, and here I thought you loved sappy pet names."

Veronica just narrows her eyes at him, before lowering her mouth to his once again. Logan's hands slide up over her skin, bringing the shirt with them and urging it up. She breaks the kiss, lifting up to let him pull it over her head, then lowers her mouth to his neck. He shudders when her lips brush over a particularly sensitive spot.

Her bottom is pressing back against his arousal tantalisingly and he has to fight the urge to lift her up and slide into her, but then she moves lower, her lips meandering down over his skin, tongue flicking out to trace his nipples, and he gets caught up in the sensations she's creating in him instead, his eyes closing and head falling back against the pillow. He keeps them closed until he feels her settle against his thighs, the wet warmth of her pressing against his skin, as her hand closes around his length.

"Oh, fuck… Veronica."

He hisses, watching with hooded eyes as she begins to stroke him, fingers gripping, hand twisting as she moves slowly up and down. When she finally lowers her mouth, taking him in, swirling her tongue around the sensitive flesh, he can't help the strangled gasp that escapes his lips. It feels incredible, like there's fire spreading through his whole body. She won't let him come though, stops just when he's close and shifts up again, reaching for a condom from the bedside table and sliding it on. She guides him to her entrance, lowering her body so he's just barely inside her.

She pauses for a moment, her eyes locking with his, and something passes between them; it's like he's looking into her soul or something and then everything feels that much more intense. She doesn't look away as she slowly takes him in. His hands come to her hips, fingers digging into her skin as she moves above him. It feels incredible, her inner muscles rippling around him, sending thrills of pleasure up his spine.

"Come here," he murmurs, sliding one hand around to her lower back, urging her down towards him.

She smiles softly in response, as she leans over and lowers her mouth to his, her hair brushing his chest. Her tongue darts out, traces his lower lip, before sucking it into her mouth. Logan shivers, his eyes sliding closed. He cups her bottom, guiding her movements, his breath coming faster now, waves of pleasure flowing through him.

"So," he whispers mischievously when she releases his lip. "That all you got?"

Her eyebrow quirks. "What do you think? We're just getting started."

She lowers her mouth to his again, kissing him soundly, her tongue tangling with his. It feels amazing. He's only been back home a few weeks, but it's like his deployment is a distant memory now, like he can barely remember what it was like to be without her for so long.

When her muscles flutter around him again, squeezing deliciously, he takes matters into his own hands, flipping them over and trapping her beneath him. The movement causes him to shift inside her, pressing deeper, and she gasps with pleasure.

He slides out of her, ignoring her whimper of disappointment, and kneels between her legs as he pins her hands to the pillow above her head.

"Logan…" she mutters breathlessly, her eyes dark and hooded as she looks up at him. "Please…"

"Patience…" he says teasingly, before lowering his mouth to her clavicle, suckling at the sensitive spot just there until she's writhing beneath him.

He enters her again, and she gasps, her wrists twisting beneath his grip. He maintains eye contact as he strokes inside her, slow and steady, working her up until she tenses beneath him, a strangled gasp escaping her lips. He doesn't let up as she rides it out, just pushes harder and faster, prolonging her pleasure while simultaneously building his own. When he comes, it's with a sharp gasp, her name tumbling from his mouth.

"Wow…" she murmurs when he releases her hands and shifts off her and onto his back. "I so needed that."

"Yeah," he replies, looking at the ceiling as he catches his breath. "Me too."

She snuggles close to him, arm slipping around his waist, her skin hot and clammy against his.

They lie together in silence, Logan tracing gentle patterns along her arm as he listens to her soft breathing. It's a few minutes before Logan remembers about the formal dinner next week.

"V'ronica?"

His question is met with a light snore and he snorts a small chuckle. He'll ask her in the morning.

"Remind me again why I agreed to this?" asks Veronica, tugging self-consciously on her dress as they enter the officer's mess on Logan's base a week later. "I don't know anyone here."

"You know me," Logan says, holding the door for her. "And you've met Chaos before. Plus, his wife is really looking forward to meeting you."

"She is?" Veronica is sceptical. "She's not mad I never called her while you were away?"

Logan shakes his head. "Of course not; she understands."

That makes her brows rise, and she turns to Logan, her voice carefully controlled as she says, "Logan, what exactly did you tell these people about me?"

He frowns, looking down at her, his hand resting on her lower back, palm warm through the thin material of her long, flowing dress.

"Nothing bad. I promise." He leans down, presses a gentle kiss just below her ear. It makes her shiver. "You'll be fine. Just follow my lead, and just ask if you're not sure about anything."

Veronica bites her lip, glancing around the so-called Ante Room filled with people. The men, and a few women, are dressed in smart formal uniform, same as Logan, while their 'plus ones', mainly women, are wearing long ballgowns.

When Logan told her about the dinner last Thursday morning, her initial reaction was a resounding 'no'. The thought of attending an official military function, filled with unfamiliar formal etiquette and rules, filled her with dread, but Logan knew just how to work her to get her to cave and by the time he left for the base an hour later, she'd agreed vehemently…several times.

What he hadn't told her was that she was going to have to go dress shopping—it seemed these dining-in nights had a strict dress code: black tie for the men, floor-length ballgown-style dresses for the women, shoulders covered at all times. At the time, she didn't really take him seriously, convinced she would be fine in one of her mid-length dresses, but Logan insisted, so on Saturday afternoon, she enlisted the help of Mac, and they went dress shopping. After almost three hours of hunting, she finally purchased a long, flowing red dress; it was Logan's favourite colour on her.

Pulling it on earlier this evening, and draping a matching silk wrap across her shoulders, she felt uncomfortable and self-conscious, but looking around the room now, she's glad Logan convinced her to buy a new dress. She would definitely be out of place in something shorter.

"Ah, Mouth, there you are."

Veronica looks up to see the man she vaguely recognises as Chaos approaching them. On his arm is a tall, slender woman in a shimmering navy blue dress, dark curls flowing over one shoulder. This must be his wife. Chaos claps Logan on the shoulder, before turning to Veronica and taking her hand.

"Veronica, lovely to see you again." He shoots her a grin as he lifts her hand to his lips, and Veronica can't help but smile back.

"Oh, knock it off, Romeo." The woman beside him swats his arm. She turns to Veronica with a raised eyebrow. "He's just putting on a show for you."

Chaos frowns, dropping Veronica's hand and turning to his wife. "Hey. I resent that. I'll have you know I'm the perfect gentleman."

"Yeah, you just keep telling yourself that." She turns to Veronica then, holding out her hand for her to shake. "Hi, I'm Sarah, Tim's wife. Nice to meet you, Veronica."

"Likewise," Veronica responds, shaking the woman's hand.

"I've been wondering when Mouth here was gonna get around to introducing you." Sarah glances toward Logan with a smile, before leaning in slightly. "Of course, that's fighter pilots for you. All brains when it comes to flying, but sadly lacking when it comes to those basic life skills. Sometimes I wonder how they manage without us all those months at sea."

"Hey!" exclaim Logan and Chaos simultaneously, looking indignant.

Sarah grins, leaning in closer, lowering her voice so the men can't hear, "But of course, the sex is amazing, am I right?"

Veronica laughs at that, the tension flowing from her body. Maybe getting to know Chaos' wife wouldn't be so bad after all.

"You're right," she responds with a wide grin, glancing at Logan who is watching them with suspicion. "It is amazing."

"What's amazing?" he asks.

"Nothing," she says quickly.

Logan frowns, opening his mouth to respond, but he's interrupted by the announcement that they must take their seats.

"Don't worry," says Chaos, as Logan takes Veronica's arm and begins leading her toward the dining hall. "I checked out the seating chart already. You guys are sitting opposite us at table four."

The tables are arranged in long rows, with a 'head table' at one end, raised up on a small platform. Each one is adorned with an elaborate array of shiny cutlery, wine glasses, water glasses and other tableware. It reminds Veronica of something out of a Harry Potter movie. Logan finds their seats and when it is announced they can sit, he pulls out her chair for her, then takes the seat to her left.

"Okay," he says quietly, leaning in. "So the basic rules of the dining-in night: One, the person sitting to your left is responsible for finding you before the meal, escorting you to your seat and essentially being your companion for the evening. In this case, that's me, but if you were here on your own, it might be someone you don't even know. Number two, you don't start eating until the Vice-President of the mess deems the food acceptable." He nods towards the small stage. "He sits with the Execs—the high-ups—up there."

"Wow, okay." Veronica's eyebrows rise, taking in the information.

"Number three, whatever you do, don't let anyone steal your name placard." He nods towards the small piece of card proclaiming her name in swirly font. He picks it up, along with his own, and shoves both in his pocket. "Keep it in a safe place. If someone else gets it, you'll be fined at the end of the meal."

"Seriously? What kind of fine?"

Logan shrugs. "Could be anything from paying cash, buying a bottle of port for the table, to having to tell a joke, or even do push-ups."

"Okay…"

"Number four, unless you're told otherwise, you're not allowed to leave the table during the meal. Not even to use the bathroom. Some dinners will have a designated 'bathroom break' in the middle, but if you get up at any other time, you'll be fined. Also, you may come back to find your chair and all your cutlery gone."

"Seriously… fines? Stealing cutlery? Is this the US Navy or preschool?"

"Old traditions die hard, I guess." One side of his mouth pulls up in a smirk. "Number five, at the end of the meal, the port will be passed around. The bottle cannot leave the table. But don't worry about that—it'll be my responsibility to pour yours anyway."

"Ah, the chivalry."

It's supposed to be a joke, but Veronica's getting nervous now. So many rules to remember… what if she forgets one? What if she makes a complete faux-pas and embarrasses herself? Logan reaches over and takes her hand.

"It'll be fine, I promise," he says reassuringly. "I'll make sure you don't do anything wrong."

"How do you remember all this stuff, all these rules?" she asks. "It's like a whole other world in here."

"Lots of practice and discipline," pipes up Chaos from across the table. He's sitting directly opposite Veronica, while Sarah is across from Logan. "Don't worry, you'll get the hang of it. It sounds a lot more complicated than it is. Just follow our lead and you'll be fine."

"I hope so."

Chaos is right, the rules actually start making sense once the meal commences and Veronica begins to get more comfortable. Conversation flows easily and she finds herself hitting it off with the other couple, particularly Sarah, who is warm and funny and seems to share a similar sense of humour. Of course, the whole evening is made even better by the amazing food: smoked salmon salad, filet mignon with gratin potatoes and vegetables, followed up with a rich chocolate mousse. It's the best meal she's eaten in a long time.

After all the plates have been cleared, it's time for the toasts. As Logan said it would be, a bottle of port is slid along the table, poured by tilting it and angling each glass so that the bottle itself never leaves the cloth. Logan pours a glass for her and passes the bottle along, before filling his own glass with the non-alcoholic alternative that follows behind. Achievements are announced and awards are given out, followed by an address from the guest speaker, and then a round of toasts, before the dinner is officially declared over.

"See, that wasn't so bad, right?" Logan says, as he escorts her out of the dining hall and into the bar area.

Veronica stops, turning to him. "Yeah, okay. You were right."

He grins. "So, you're having fun, then?"

"Yes, I'm having fun," she says, looping her arms around his neck and rising up on tiptoes to give him a quick kiss. "Go on, you can say it: I told you so."

He looks affronted, sliding his arms around her waist. "I would never."

"Yeah, yeah… of course not."

"Before you two lovebirds get all hot and heavy, may I suggest drinks out on the veranda?" Chaos appears beside them, a bottle of wine in one hand and two glasses in the other.

"And for the 'designated drivers' among us, a softer alternative," adds Sarah, carrying two more glasses and a bottle of sparkling grape juice.

"You wanna?" Logan turns back to Veronica.

She shrugs. "Sure, why not?"

"And then this one, right here, had the nerve to hit on me… in front of everyone." Sarah laughed, tilting her glass toward Logan. "He didn't even put together that I was dating his best friend."

"In my defence," Logan holds up his hands, "he hadn't even shown me a picture of you yet. How was I to know you were the girl who had him tied up in knots?"

"You could have waited for an introduction first," countered Chaos.

Logan shrugged. "Yeah, that would have been the sensible option… but I'd just broken up with Penny. I was lonely and needy." He turns to Veronica. "You should have seen me; I was a basket case. It wasn't pretty."

Veronica frowns, feeling a twinge of jealousy at the mention of another woman in his life. "Who's Penny?"

Logan hesitates. "Oh, uh, she was… we dated when I lived in Texas."

"Oh…"

She doesn't know what to say to that. She has no right to be jealous, she knows that, but she's been drinking and isn't really thinking all that straight. She takes large sip of her wine, quashing those thoughts, determined not to let them affect her as she returns to what she had been about to say before the mention of this Penny girl.

"Hmm, I'm sensing a pattern here," she muses softly.

"Huh?" Logan turns to her with a quizzical look.

"You mistaking off-limits girls for ones you can hit on," she says. "Remember back in high school when you were drunk at that party sophomore year and you thought I was Lilly?" She looks back to Chaos and Sarah. "He was all over me. Pulled me into his lap, tried to kiss me, then started waxing poetic about his feelings. I was dating his best friend at the time... who was also Lilly's brother."

"Hey, what is this, pick on Logan day?"

"Aww, no, sweetie." She pats his leg comfortingly. "Of course not."

Logan raises an eyebrow, a smirk forming on his lips as he leans in, says softly, "Oh, so we're back to pet names now, are we, baby?"

At the tone of his voice, she shivers, thoughts of that night last week coming back to her. She pushes them aside, shaking her head and saying airily, "Only in the sarcastic sense, honeybunch."

'Honeybunch?' Logan mouths incredulously, before grinning and leaning in for a kiss.

"Hey, Mouth," Chaos cuts in, interrupting the moment. "You tell Veronica how you got that scar?"

"Scar?" she asks curiously, trying to recall a mental catalogue of all the scars on his body.

It's kind of sad that her boyfriend has so many scars, she has to ask which one he's referring to.

"The one here, on my calf." He rubs the spot over his uniform trousers.

"Oh, yes." Of course, she's seen it, has recognised that it's a new one since they were together all those years ago, but she assumed it happened pre-Navy and didn't want to bring up bad memories by asking about it. "So, what happened?"

As Chaos launches into the story of how Logan got caught up in a convenience store robbery in Pensacola a few years ago, and was knifed in the thigh as he protected a young boy from harm, Veronica can't help but watch Logan intently, a wave of emotion rising in her chest. He's looking down at his hands, not making eye contact with her, as if he's embarrassed by the praise and attention as Chaos proclaims him a hero. He's changed so much in the last few years, grown from the messed up teenager who made her life hell and arranged bum fights for money, to this mature, respectable man, who would risk his life for others.

With a warm smile, she reaches out and places her hand over his, turning his palm up and linking their fingers. He looks up, returns the smile and nods when she leans close to his ear and whispers, "I always knew you were a hero."