The next morning Logan carefully slid out of bed without waking Veronica and started to cook pancakes in the kitchen.

"Morning Logan, I could get used to someone else cooking breakfast for me"

"I asked Veronica to marry me last night"

Keith's jaw tightened and he said shortly "Well?"

"She said no, well not exactly – we have talked about marriage before but she wants to wait"

Keith sighed with relief "Well I won't pretend I'm not happy about that. I've realised that you are in her life, probably for good, and I know you make her happy; but she's still my little girl. I can't believe she's in college yet, so I'm hoping I still have a few years left where I'm at least one of the most important people in her life"

"Not to get all sappy on you, but you will always be the most important person in her life Keith. Even when I finally convince her to marry me, and start a family, you're still going to be there – I know I haven't made the greatest impression on you, but I've always wished I had a father like you. Veronica is lucky to have you"

"You've changed a lot in the past few years Logan. I'll admit, I'm proud of the man you have become, I know your childhood wasn't the best, but I'm glad you have gotten past it. Since it looks like you will be sticking around I hope that we can be friends" Keith held out his hand to shake Logan's

"Of course it goes without saying that I still have many guns, and If you hurt her...."

"Hurt who Dad?" Veronica walked into the kitchen yawning

"Nothing darling daughter, just having a chat with Logan"

"I thought you were going to stop threatening my boyfriends"

"How many do you have?"Logan piped up

"Ah you know, there's Bob, Billy, the entire soccer team, you know, it's hard to keep track"

"Not funny V" Logan put his arm around her shoulders "Why don't you sit down and I will dish you up some pancakes"

"Ah you figured out the way to my heart, sneaky, I might dump the others after all" She joked.

"What are you up to today Veronica" Keith jumped in

"Well I have to pick up my class schedule, catch up with Mac to plan Wallace's welcome home bash, then Logan and I are going house hunting"

Keith just spluttered at the last item

"For him, not us – He's finally decided to grow up and move out of the hotel"

"Glad to hear, Glad to hear. Well I should get going, those criminals don't just catch themselves"

When Keith had gone she curiously asked Logan "What were you two talking about before?"

"Don't you worry your pretty little head, let's get on the road, there are two beach-houses I want to look at this afternoon"

---

Logan had dropped Veronica off at Mac's dorm before his meeting with his advisor to talk over his choice of major.

"So how did the big reunion go?"

"Well except the part where he asked me to marry him pretty good. So what's your new roommate like, no Parker this year?"

"I've only been here a day, roommate is Michelle, and she is a jock – and you are avoiding. What did you say?"

"No....... for now. I don't want to rush into anything. We've talked about the whole marriage and kids thing as a future thing – I just don't think I'm ready for all that yet. The rest of my life is big, I can't even choose a major"

"I thought you were set on criminology? Even after Landry you know. I thought the plan was FBI all the way"

Veronica sighed "Yeah, until I spent 3 months as an intern there, now I can't make up my mind, even Logan has a better idea than me"

Mac looked surprised "I always thought he would end up as the sort of businessman who makes deals for appearances sake, but really just lives of daddy's money. What is he choosing?"

"Apparently it's a toss-up between english and psychology. He really enjoyed that writing seminar he took last semester and apparently the professor though he was talented, but he also wants to maybe end up as a children's counsellor. Who would have thought he would end up the driven one?"

"So what happened at the FBI? You seemed happy over the phone?"

"Yeah, I guess it just wasn't really me. I'm not really a by the book kind of girl. While I was there two murder investigations were closed because there wasn't enough evidence. Apparently it happens all the time. Also most of the agents were closer to Lamb than my Dad if you know what I mean. I'm just not sure they are the ones I would want watching my back."

"What about the Police, Sherriff, PI then?"

"I don't know, I know everyone sees me as really into this stuff, and I have taken on a lot of jobs for the extra cash, but the big ones were only because it was personal. I mean after Lilly's death, no-one else cared enough that they had the wrong guy, and I was so guilty about walking out on Parker getting raped, that I couldn't let it go. I mean I've already lost Logan once over the things I've done, Dad almost ended up in jail, and the run-ins with rapists, murderers and the Fitzpatricks aren't something I really want to keep having forever. I'm never going to be Susie homemaker but now that we have a competent sheriff, maybe it's time to let them do their job. The other reason is that Logan and I want kids someday. I know what it's like to not have both your parents and I won't risk that happening to mine"

"You have really thought about this huh? So what do you want to do then?"

"I'm not sure, maybe photography? Or journalism, or flower arranging, I have no idea"

Mac looked thoughtful "why don't just list the things you like to do – that's what I did"

Veronica laughed – "yeah and what was on your list"

"Computers, and making out with Max, I made it at the start of summer, anyway I figured out that the making out option wasn't really a great career move, although i hear that hookers get paid pretty well. I don't think computer science was really a surprise to anyone though"

"You never told me the whole story with Max?"

"you know just the whole girl dumps guy because his was way too consumed with his cheating business and didn't ever want to get a real job"

"Ahh that, you ok?"

"yeah, another one bites the dust. Anyway change of subject – Wallace get's back tomorrow, I've invited a heap of people to Logan's, anything else you wanted me to do"

"Nope I've got the food and drinks covered, apparently Dick is playing DJ"

Mac groaned "you're kidding, he has the worst taste"

Veronica laughed and they talked for a few more minutes about Wallace's party before Logan came to pick her up.

"Hey lovely ladies, can I take you to lunch?"

"I thought you had an appointment with a realtor?"asked Mac

"Not till 2, I'm all yours till then" Logan replied while holding out his arm to her.

Veronica whacked him on the arm "What about me?"

"Ahhh I suppose you could come too"

----

Logan and Veronica followed the realtor into a large modern beach-house that afternoon.

"As you can see it's very spacious with a minimalistic design. The views are amazing, and it has all the latest amenities"

Logan just looked at Veronica and she shrugged her shoulders "It will be your house not mine", he turned back to the realtor "These modern places just seem cold. I want somewhere warm and relaxed. Somewhere you could raise a family"

The realtor raised her eyebrow "Sure, I didn't realise you would be thinking long term. When you told me It was just for you, I assumed you were after a bachelor pad. I have a place that you might like, it's actually just up the road, on the beach and hidden from the street, very private, with a kind of rustic charm"

As she pulled into the driveway a few minutes later Veronica grabbed his hand and smiled at Logan. The garden was huge and amazing, full of trees and flowers, the house was set back from the road a long way and way quite small, at least in comparison to the mansion they had seen earlier. The path to the beach started directly behind the house, and even on a spectacular summer's day the beach was deserted. The house had a cosy feel to it, it was weathered, but still appeared to be in good condition. Inside it was decorated in soft blues and greens with timber floors. There were four bedrooms and two bathrooms upstairs, and a large open plan living area downstairs. The house was completed by a large back deck overlooking the ocean.

Veronica's mouth opened in amazement, It was perfect she thought. She hoped Logan liked it.

Logan looked around then went out onto the deck to check out the waves. Veronica came up and snuggled under his arm "How do they look" "Perfect, what do you think of the house?"

"You should make up your own mind Logan, it's your house not mine"

"but when you give in and marry me it will be our house" He looked sideways at her and said "I can see us raising kids here, two little girls playing in the garden, pretending they are princesses lost in the forest outside the castle. Me cooking us dinner in the kitchen, you waking the kids up after a nap in their bedroom upstairs"

Veronica chuckled then told him "Don't tell Dick any of that – he will think you are so whipped"

She looked at the ocean for a few minutes then said seriously "I love it Logan, I think it's amazing".