Veronica dreamed about Logan that night. Just the happy simple moments, like playfully arguing over which takeout to order, or snuggling on his couch watching a movie. She woke up with a start and recognised the familiar decor of the Grand, but when she reached out to find Logan she was disappointed to find the bed cold. It took her a few moments to realise she was in Dick's room, and that she hadn't reunited with Logan.
She wandered out into the living area to grab a drink of water and find out what the time was. She sighed when she saw it was only 3.26 am. Feeling wide awake she flopped down on the couch, wondering if she should leave, and where she could go. It was a depressing thought that she had so few people to turn to; she had never perfected the art of making a lot of casual friends.
She heard a noise from Logan's room and he emerged wearing only a pair of sweat pants. "Geez Ronnie, way to do the creepy sitting in the dark thing, come on if you are up, at least turn on the light" She stared at him her heart pounding, wondering if he had always looked so good. When he turned to get some water she saw the faint scars on his back, and she felt that old sadness when she realised he had gone through even more than her, and how lucky she was to have her father.
Logan cleared his throat "Um Veronica, do you have to stare at me like a stalker?"
She shook her head to clear it "Sorry, I was just thinking....... thinking about my dad"
"He's just worried about you .."
"You rang him didn't you" Veronica interrupted him accusingly "since when are you two all buddy buddy?"
She sighed again and then shook her head "I'm sorry, I know you were just doing what you thought was right. I just feel guilty, I really stuffed up this time, and I'm not sure I can make it better. I don't know what I'll do if he doesn't love me anymore"
"Veronica, Ronnie, you know he will always love you..... You're like this crazy parasite, once you get your claws in, your unsuspecting victims just can't get you out of their hearts"
She looked over at him startled and then laughed when she saw his grin, and whacked him on the shoulder. He chuckled for a second, and then his face fell. "Veronica" he said seriously "How did you get the bruise on your face?"
She lifted her hand to her cheek in an unconscious gesture "It's nothing"
He touched her bruise, and she winced "Don't even try to lie to me Mars, was it Jake Kane?"
"Jake, No, where would you even get that idea?" She looked dumbfounded and he was sure she was telling the truth. She wouldn't cover for Jake Kane anyway.
There was an uncomfortable silence for a few minutes then she spoke again "If I tell you will you promise not go off with your fists flying, I haven't decided how I want to handle it"
"I've got a way to handle it" Logan growled
"Logan! I can fight my own battles"
"Yeah Mars, so you have been telling me for years, I'm never good enough to look out for you" he said bitterly
Veronica grabbed his hand "Echolls, you know I have issues – you were never the real problem in our relationship......" Veronica trailed off uncertainly then took a deep breath and continued "That's kind of one of the things I want to talk about, but now's not really the time. You deserve.......... you deserve to hear my explanations and apologies when I can concentrate on you. I know I've treated you as a bit of an afterthought, and I know that it wasn't fair.......... If we are going to have a chance" She looked away quickly "If you want to give us another chance I mean, then I need to be better, I know that"
She looked back to where Logan was sitting in shock, she felt the tears coming and jumped up and grabbed her bag and started to quickly walk towards the door. Logan realised she was trying to leave, and ran to stop her. He stood in front of the door and smiled at her. "Ronnie you are right that tonight isn't the time to discuss us........ but I've never stopped loving you"
Veronica's stomach was churning, and she couldn't believe she could go from devastated to elated so fast. She blurted "Iloveyou"" and Logan looked so happy that she just wanted to stare at him like that forever. She took a step towards him and stopped "We shouldn't rush things, I think I should try to get a few more hours of sleep" Logan nodded.
Veronica turned at the door to Dick's room and said softly "It was Piz, but please don't do anything stupid"
Logan clenched his fists trying to fight his desire to find Piz and pummel him into a bleeding pulp, he would make what he had done after the video look like it was done by a child. He steadied himself and grabbed another drink of water. If he followed his instincts he might lose any chance of getting back with Veronica, and that was the most important thing....... He sat on the couch thinking for a few minutes then went into his room to rapidly dress. He checked on Veronica to make sure she was asleep before grabbing his keys and silently leaving the suite.
Wallace opened the door to Logan blearily "Hey man, what's going on?" "Nothing Wallace, just swung by for a chat with your roomie"
Logan strode into the room, grabbed Piz's collar and hauled him out of bed "Wha .... What?" Piz spluttered, then he laughed as he realised it was Logan who had woken him "Ah here to beat me up for your mistress" he said sarcastically, "You can have that bitch; she's just damaged goods anyway". Logan had trouble restraining himself and after a pause, said tightly "Don't ever talk about Veronica like that, the only reason you aren't a bloody mess right now is that she asked me not to, although why she would waste her sentiment on a woman-beater like you is beyond me. I came here to say that this is your only warning, you should change schools or something, because if I ever see you again, I won't be so restrained "
"He hit her?"Wallace demanded from Logan
"Yeah.............. I need to get out of here before I do something I really want to do. V's staying at my place tonight, I'm sure she'll call you tomorrow"
"Don't worry about it, I knew she would have been upset about the thing with her dad, and I knew she dumped Piz, but I didn't know he..... he"
Logan's eyes were haunted as he left the room, he would have liked nothing more than to pound on Piz for ever daring to touch a woman, any woman; but the fact it was Veronica made it that much harder for him to walk away.
Wallace closed the door behind Logan and turned to face his roommate. "Is it true?"
Piz swallowed and nodded "Look man I was just upset, you know......" Wallace just punched him, catching his eye, and breaking his nose. "Look I hope you are going to follow Logan's advice, because you aren't staying here anymore. You can pick up your stuff around lunchtime today, and then I don't want to see you again.
"Hey man, where am I supposed to go?"Piz whined with his trademark puppy dog look, Wallace spun and spat at him venomously "I stopped caring the minute you used my friend as a punching bag". Defeated, Piz grabbed some clothes and his wallet and walked out the door, muttering something that Wallace couldn't quite make out, but was pretty sure included "manipulative icequeen bitch".
Logan quietly let himself back into the suite, but stopped when he saw Veronica sitting on the couch. He sighed and flopped down next to her.
"Well I don't see any obvious blood or bruising....... so what happened?"
"We just had a little chat, that's all. I'm trying to be responsible and mature for this tiny blond girl I know"
"Yeah, what's this girl like? Do I need to be jealous?"
"Well, she's beautiful, and intelligent, and gutsy and forgiving and...."
Veronica interrupted him by kissing him softly and laughing "Ok Ok enough"
"Seriously though, I told him to change schools or something, because the next time I saw him I would kick the shit out of him"
Veronica just grabbed his hand and smiled "Looks like we have both changed, I'm letting things go, and letting you in, and you aren't using violence to solve every problem. Now that we are perfect" She chuckled "How about we watch a movie".
Later Logan just looked down as she lay sleeping against his shoulder and hoped that the peace would last.