The next couple of weeks leading up to Christmas are busy for Veronica. In addition to picking up a few new clients at work, she finally solves the Grace Manning case. After she finished talking to Logan the other week, she had a breakthrough. Leo D'Amato had no new updates, but her phone call to him gave her an idea and within minutes she'd managed to match the PSU basketball game schedule with the dates and locations of the other escorts who'd been hired by the elusive Mr. Kiss and Tell. Their next game was scheduled for Las Vegas in mid-December, so she and Leo devised a plan to catch Bellamy in the act.

Which is what led her to this moment, dressed in disguise and sitting across from Leo in the Stardust Restaurant in the Mercury Resort. He'd picked her up from her apartment this morning and they drove to Vegas together with the top down on his vintage Mustang. It was an odd ride; Veronica felt strangely out of her comfort zone spending over four hours in a car with her ex-boyfriend-turned-work-colleague while her current boyfriend was serving his country overseas, and although they made casual small talk for most of the journey, she still couldn't fully relax in his company. It didn't get much easier when they booked just one room at the Mercury, watched the PSU basketball match—and Coach Bellamy—on the hotel room TV, then got costumed up and went down to the restaurant, like they were on a date or something.

She keeps her tone light as she jokes with him over dinner. She knows this is just work—for the case—but that doesn't stop the unease she feels as they head back to the room together. Once inside, she pulls off her brunette wig and kicks off her shoes, then opens her laptop as she sits on the edge of the bed. Before dinner, they planted video cameras in the room Bellamy had booked for the night. And there he is, lying on the bed and flicking TV channels. Now it's just a case of sitting back and waiting.

Veronica shifts to the left slightly, gaze fixed on the screen, all too conscious that Leo's sitting right beside her, almost close enough that his thigh is touching hers. She has to admit that they work well together, but she's been noticing him watching her, an expression in his eyes that suggests he wants to be more than just friends, and she's not sure how to take that.

Of course, Leo is easy to talk to, and it would be a lot simpler to be with someone who doesn't get shipped off on deployment for months at a time, but she loves Logan, not Leo. Logan is the one she wants to be with, the one she wishes was lying beside her at night. He's the one she wants to spend her life with.

They catch Bellamy in the act on camera Friday night, then Saturday night, they find the body of another of Mr Kiss and Tell's victims, Madelyn Chase, buried at the Desert Bluffs golf course.

Leo drives her back to Neptune on Sunday afternoon, which is again a slightly odd experience. They stop at a rest stop near Joshua Tree State Park and eat burgers and fries at a picnic bench, but the conversation takes an awkward turn when Leo breaks the silence with, "You know, Veronica, we're really good together."

She starts slightly, her eyes widening as she feels her cheeks flush. Good together, as in together together? Her thoughts drift to their last couple of days together. She's aware of how he's been looking at her, and she has to admit to feeling flattered by it, but that's as far as it goes. She doesn't want Leo, doesn't feel the same way about him as she suspects he feels about her. She's about to let him down easy when he continues talking.

"You ever think about going legit?" he asks. "You'd have to start on a beat, but you'd make detective in no time. The academy's testing in a couple months."

Oh. Right. A relieved sigh escapes her lips. He's talking about work.

"Me? On the force?" She scoffs. "Can you imagine me reporting to a CO? Come on, D'Amato. I'm a loose cannon. A cowboy cop. A maverick. Besides, just because I'm not legit doesn't mean we can't work together. I think this arrangement has worked out pretty well for both of us." She smirks then." And I'm not sure Detective Veronica Mars, SDPD, would've been quite so willing to play fast and loose with the criminal element."

"Really?" He grins. "Because I'm pretty sure Detective Veronica Mars would be plenty willing. And that might be a problem. But fair enough." He steals one of her fries, popping it into his mouth. She frowns. "Let me know if you ever start dreaming of a pension and actual benefits. It's not all bad, playing by the rules."

That's pretty much the end of the conversation, and while Veronica knows she definitely won't be becoming a detective in the SDPD any time soon—or ever—she can't help but feel glad Leo wasn't coming onto her after all.

As it's the holiday season, with Christmas only a few days away, Monday is fairly slow at the office. Veronica finishes the paperwork from the case, then goes to see Grace in the afternoon to let her know that Bellamy has been caught and that the case has been solved.

Tuesday night is election night in the race for Neptune's new sheriff. Everyone from Keith's old colleagues and friends, to his old neighbours, to Mac and Wallace, gathers at Keith's house to watch the results on TV. Veronica has just made room for a plate of nachos on the dining room table—which is already covered with food—when the doorbell rings.

She answers it to discover Leo on the other side, wearing a shirt and tie, with a black leather jacket over the top. She opens the door wider and he steps inside.

"Sorry I'm late," he announces himself to everyone. "We win yet?"

"Not yet," says Veronica. "But we haven't lost yet either. Thanks for coming."

"Hey, thanks for having me. Nice spread."

He puts the wine bottle down on the table, waving to Mac and Wallace as he does so. Keith appears from the kitchen with a plate of stuffed mushrooms.

"Detective!" he says when he sees Leo. "Welcome, welcome. Hope you brought your appetite."

"I never leave home without it, sir." Leo grins.

Keith claps him on the shoulder, before returning to the living room.

Leo turns to Veronica, expression turning serious. "How you doing?"

"I'm doing all right," she says. "Apart from the fact that we're about to get four more years of Lamb, I mean."

"Yeah, well." Leo shrugs, his eyes sparkling. "That just means you'll have four more years to give him hell."

Any response she might have given is drowned out by excitement in the living room. It's a tense few moments as the newscaster first says there's no clear election winner, but then announces that the final numbers are coming in and that Marcia Langdon is projected to win.

Around her, the room erupts, but Veronica just stares at the TV screen, watching the no-nonsense expression on Marcia's face as she steps up to the podium. She can't help but wonder what Neptune's going to be like with her in charge of the Sheriff's Department and not Lamb. Since her father left the job, she's only really known a world where a Lamb was in charge.

Though, I guess things can't get much worse than they already are. So that's a plus.

Logan stares anxiously at the PC screen in the computer lab early Wednesday morning. He's supposed to be on a Skype date with Veronica right about now, but she's been at Keith's for the election night party and she's late. He's not sure if she's gonna make it online before he has to go. So, he's twiddling his thumbs and refreshing his emails, just for something to do while he waits.

He grins when the computer pings with an alert and he sees she's just signed in. Without hesitation, he presses the call button. A moment later, the call connects and her face fills the screen. He smiles widely when he sees her.

"I wasn't sure you'd make it."

"I'm here." She smiles, her face slightly flushed. "We have a date, don't we?"

"We do." He nods. "So, what happened? Who won?"

Her smile widens. "Marcia Langdon. Lamb's out."

"Seriously?" He mentally punches the air. It's about time. "That's great."

"I hope so," she says, though she seems a little dubious.

"You don't think so?"

"Honestly, I don't know." She shrugs. "I mean, Lamb was a terrible sheriff—as was his brother—but at least we knew how they operated; we knew where we stood with them. Langdon is an unknown. Who knows how Neptune will change now."

"Guess it can't get any worse, right?"

Veronica chuckles. "Yeah, my thoughts exactly."

She pauses for a moment, then changes the subject. "So, how are you doing?"

"Pretty good." Logan nods. "I'm flying pretty much every day right now—lots going on out here. Which is good; it keeps me busy. I miss you, though."

Her expression softens.

"Miss you, too." She sighs. "It's almost Christmas."

"I know."

She opens her mouth as if to say something, then stops, and seems to change tack. "So, how does it work, Christmas on an aircraft carrier?"

"Well, there's gonna be a lot of food and homemade celebrations," he says. "And they're gonna play video messages from family and friends back home."

"Really?" Her face falls a little. "Why didn't you tell me? I could have sent something."

"It's okay," he assures her. "I get to talk to you live anyway. Plus we're only apart for a few weeks… some of these guys have been out here for months."

"Okay." She nods in acceptance. "Still, I wish you could be here for the holidays… or I could be there."

"Me too," he agrees. "So, what are your holiday plans?"

"Oh." She smiles. "Well, actually, Lianne and Hunter are coming out here for the weekend. They're gonna spend Christmas Day with us at Dad's house."

"Really?" Logan's surprised Keith is up for that, given his history with Veronica's mom.

"Yeah." Veronica gives him a look that tells him she knows what he's thinking. "I wondered too, but he insisted."

"Well, good luck, I guess."

"Thanks." She gives a sheepish shrug, as if she doesn't want to consider that the holiday might be awkward, but acknowledging it probably will be.

He smiles, then remembers the news she divulged in an email a couple of days ago.

"Oh, congratulations on solving your case, by the way."

Veronica visibly relaxes, smiling widely. "Yeah. Feels pretty good to finally know what happened. We caught the coach on camera and everything."

"We?" He frowns.

"Yeah, Leo and I," she clarifies. "He drove us to Vegas on Friday and back on Sunday, used his contacts in the LVPD to get Bellamy arrested and to find Madelyn Chase."

"D'Amato?" Logan clamps down on the jealousy that threatens to rise up in him. "You're working with him again?"

"Yeah, why?" She looks puzzled for a moment, before realisation dawns across her face. "Wait, you're not jealous? Of Leo?"

"Well, you have been spending time with him lately." Logan winces as he says it, knowing how it sounds. "And, you know, I'm, like seven thousand miles away here…"

"Logan…" Veronica shakes her head. "There's nothing going on with Leo. Nothing. You have absolutely no reason to be jealous."

Logan studies her face on the screen for a moment, sensing there's something she's not saying. "But he would like there to be. Right?"

"I don't know." She shrugs, looking a little uncomfortable. "I think, maybe, yeah."

Logan blanches. He'd better keep his smarmy hands off her.

"But Logan," she leans forward, looking directly into the camera. "I love you. Not him. You're the one I want to be with."

"I know." He exhales. "I know that."

"Listen," she says then. "Get this: on Sunday, when we stopped for food, he mentioned something about us being good together."

"What?" Logan straightens, teeth gritting.

"Wait." She holds up a hand. "It's not what you think."

"Okay…" He nods reluctantly. "Go on."

"So, there I was, trying to find a way to let him down easy, and it turned out he was talking professionally," she continues, giving a roll of her eyes. "He suggested I join the force, go legit and become a detective."

Logan chuckles, his discomfort momentarily forgotten. "Seriously? A police detective? Does he know you?"

"Yeah, can you imagine?" She laughs softly. "Of course, I said, no way. That's not who I am."

"No, it's not." Logan grins, feeling lighter already. "You'd totally break all the rules."

"Exactly." She smiles, catching her tongue between her teeth.

"Though, you know…" he says, thoughtfully, "You'd look hot in the uniform."

"Logan!" Veronica's eyes widen, her mouth falling open in mock offence.

"What?" he returns cheekily. "You can ogle me in my uniform, but I can't do the same to you? Where are the equal opportunity rights in that?"

"I seem to recall you getting in plenty of ogling yourself," she retorts, "and I only need your uniform for that."

Yeah, she's got you there, he concedes with a shrug. "Okay, point taken."

A wicked glint appears in her eye then and Logan swallows. He knows that look.

"You know, sometimes I wear your uniform when you're not even here," she says, her tone teasing, "and I think about you touching me, and—"

"Stop." He holds up a hand. "For the love of God, stop."

She grins. "You really want me to?"

God, no, he thinks, but…

"Veronica, I'm in public here… and wearing gym shorts," he reminds her. "This is NOT a good time."

"Aww, come on, you gonna ruin my fun?"

Logan frowns suspiciously. "How much have you had to drink?"

"Not much," she responds, though her cheeks flush as she says it. "Well, I mean…you know, there was champagne... It was a celebration."

"You don't say." He says, deadpan. "Look, before you get any other dirty ideas, I really have to go. My time is up."

"Aww, baby, don't go." She pushes out her bottom lip in a pout, her eyes sparkling with humour.

He smiles, amused. "Bye, Veronica."

She drops the act, her voice soft as she says, "Bye, Logan."

Veronica invites Wallace and Mac over for Christmas Eve and they spend the evening eating, drinking and generally being merry. It's after midnight by the time Mac and Wallace bundle themselves into an Uber cab, leaving Veronica alone in the apartment.

She feels a little tipsy—okay, more than a little—as she gets ready for bed, but when she slides under the covers, facing the middle of the otherwise empty bed, it hits her. Loneliness, longing, sadness… all flowing over her like an ocean wave. Her hand covers her mouth as she curls into a ball. She's been doing so well without him so far… or at least she thought she was. She's been keeping herself busy, assuring herself that it's only for a few weeks, that Logan will be home soon… and it's been okay. Until now.

Maybe it's the holiday season making her feel sentimental, or maybe it's those three gin and tonics she's downed, but all she wants right now is for Logan to wrap his arms around her, holding her close. She aches for his touch. Veronica presses her lips together in a futile attempt to keep her emotions in check, but it doesn't help. It bubbles up in her throat as tears form in the corners of her eyes and she can't stop the strangled sob from escaping her lips.

"Logan…" she whispers, tugging the sheets close around herself.

This should have been their first Christmas together, filled with decorations and festivities, copious amounts of food, exchanging presents, holiday sex…. making their own traditions as a couple. But instead, he's seven thousand miles away, flying fighter jets from an aircraft carrier and she's just… well, here, alone in their bed, drunk and emotional. And of course, it's just her luck that her hormones have been all over the place this week. Damn PMS. Her period's due in the next few days, which means she's feeling tired and irritable too. Not a good combination.

At least she's not pregnant, though – she knows that much for sure. She had a tense couple of days last month, panicking because she thought she was late—it was right around Thanksgiving, when she Skyped with Logan and he noticed she was distracted, though she blamed it entirely on her annoyance with Weevil at the time—but much to her relief, her period arrived the next morning. She's not sure what she would have done if it turned out she was pregnant… she's just glad she didn't have to consider it.

She still doesn't know what possessed her to take things that far with Logan that night, to forego the extra protection, but the feel of him inside her, with nothing between them… it was best feeling in the world. She's never done that with anyone else before, but she can't explain it; in the moment, it just felt right. It wasn't until the looming possibility of not getting her period that she realised what they'd done, how risky it could have been. From now on, she's pretty sure she's going to be taking all the usual precautions, regardless of how much she wants to go without again.

On the bedside table, her phone beeps with a new email alert. Veronica sniffs and wipes her eyes, before turning over and reaching for the phone. Her breath catches when she sees who it's from and she sits up, opening the message.

From: logan .echolls at navy .mil

To: vmars at gmail. com

Date: 25th December 2016 00:25 PST (10:25 ship time)

Subject: Christmas Greetings

Veronica,

You're probably asleep right now, but I'm not sure if I'll be online again today, so I'll say this now:

Merry Christmas :)!

I opened your present this morning—thank you—it's perfect :P.

I have something for you, too. Check my spare duffle, in the back of the closet :).

Wish I could be there to celebrate with you, but I'll be home soon—should only be about three more weeks.

Have fun with your family today—say hi to everyone for me.

Love you and miss you,

Logan x

By the time she reaches the end, Veronica is smiling widely, one hand resting over her heart.

Perfect timing, Logan, she thinks gratefully. Just when I needed to hear from you.

She slips out of the bed and goes hunting in the closet for his spare Navy duffle bag. She finds the bag hidden at the back and, as she digs through it, she imagines Logan's reaction to opening her present this morning. She'd tried to go for amusing, thoughtful and useful all at the same time and had settled on a packet of Red Vines, a puka shell necklace she found at a beach vendor's stall—one that reminded her of the one he always wore in high school—and a new USB stick filled with music and movies… and a couple of her own recordings too.

At the bottom of the duffle, Veronica finds a card and a rectangular wrapped box. She reaches for them and settles on the bed. The card shows a festive cartoon involving Santa piloting a plane on the front, while inside, Logan has penned an amusing anecdote about flying a festive display one year. It makes her laugh, her mood improving considerably. Placing the card to one side, she unwraps the present, her eyes widening when she sees the Tiffany's logo on the box.

"God, Logan…" she murmurs. "Tiffany's?"

Hands shaking, she carefully opens the lid, a soft gasp escaping her lips as a delicate, eternal circle necklace is revealed to her gaze.

"Wow…" she breathes, feeling choked up. It's gorgeous.

Veronica's never been one of those girls with expensive tastes, has never expected to be bought jewellery by men, but this is beautiful. Logan has good taste. She just hopes this didn't cost him a small fortune. Not that he can't afford it, it's just… well, she doesn't like other people spending tons of money on her. She's used to paying her own way.

Oh, fuck it…

With a tremulous smile, she extracts the necklace from the box and fastens it around her neck. God, it even feels amazing. She stands, moving over to the dresser to see how it looks.

"Wow," she says again, fingering the delicate silver pendant. "This kinda makes my gift look trivial in comparison."

Taking one last look in the mirror, she turns back toward the bed, grabbing her laptop from the chair, and settling under the covers again. She starts it up and signs into Skype, just in case Logan's still online. He's not, so she composes a reply to his email.

From: vmars at gmail.com

To: logan .echolls at navy .mil

Date: 25th December 2016 00:52 PST (10:52 ship time)

Subject: RE: Christmas Greetings

Logan,

Merry Christmas to you, too :)

Mac and Wallace came over for Christmas Eve celebrations tonight, so I wasn't asleep when you emailed… you caught me just as I'd got into bed, though I guess you're not online now. If you get another chance in the next 24 hours, let me know, and I'll log into Skype.

Glad you liked the present—I thought it would be fitting :).

And thank you for mine—it's absolutely gorgeous… I love it. I know I'm always telling you not to spend your money on me, but I think I can definitely make an exception for a necklace from Tiffany's.

Wish we could be together today, too. I hope you're having a good Christmas out there though, and you're right—three weeks is nothing… we can make it.

Love you back,

Veronica xx

Spending Christmas with thousands of Navy personnel aboard a massive tin can in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea isn't exactly Logan's idea of a festive holiday—not that he has much of a frame of reference, given his childhood—and he'd much rather be holed up with Veronica in her apartment, celebrating together, but all in all, it turns out to be a much better day than he anticipated.

In fact, this whole tour has been good for him. Getting back to operational flying, attending mission briefings and actually serving his country on the frontline again has given him the chance to work through his grief over Bilbo and to battle some of his own demons as well. Even after only a few weeks out here, he feels much better, much more at peace with himself than he had before he left California. He's glad it's only a short tour this time though, because having to spend more than a couple of months away from Veronica would be too much, especially as he's going to have to deploy again in a year or so. Yeah, he needed this time to sort himself out, but that doesn't mean he wants to be here forever.

He doesn't see Veronica's email reply until the next morning, but as soon as he reads it, he sends a quick email back, letting her know he's free to Skype if she's still awake. She signs in just a couple of minutes later and he spends the next thirty minutes celebrating a belated makeshift Christmas with her.

It's not the holiday he originally pictured he'd be sharing with her, but it's better than not being with her at all.