Veronica was released from Hospital the next morning. She sighed as they pulled up in the driveway "I can't believe how much our lives can change in just one day" Logan squeezed her hand "We'll get through this Veronica, and we have 6 more months to get ready for the baby. We'll be fine"

"I know, I just don't know where to start. I need to contact the Police, Joel's sister, Bernie's lawyer and Phil. I'm sure he knows, but I guess we will need to close the gallery or something. I don't know"

"How about I call the San Francisco Police, and you call Bernie's lawyer. When we find out what happened and if he left any instructions we can go from there"

Half an hour later Veronica walked back into the kitchen to see Logan stirring a cup of coffee absently.

"The lawyer said he wanted me to take care of the funeral arrangements, that there was some pretty specific instructions, also that we need to be there for the reading of the will. He'll organise it for after the wake"

Logan took that in "Ok, If you are feeling up to it, I guess we should start as soon as the body is released by the police. They said it was a pretty cut and dried suicide case, that the autopsy should be done in the next two days. They want to talk to us – they are sending someone around this afternoon"

Veronica sat down heavily "I hate all this. We should be so happy, planning for the baby, not arranging another friend's funeral"

Logan got up and put his arms around her "I'm sad and angry about Bernie and Joel, but I'm really happy about the baby too V. I can't wait to have a miniature you running around"

Veronica smiled "It will be a miniature you too Logan – you can't get out of all responsibility"

The phone started ringing then and Logan handed it to Veronica when he saw it was Phil

"Hi Phil, I've been meaning to call you. yeah sorry I was in hospital overnight. no I'm fine. How are you coping? Are you sure you want to keep the gallery open? Yeah ok , We'll be coming in to start making arrangements in the next few days. We'll call if we need anything. Bye"

"So He's going to keep the place open?"

"yeah, said he wanted to let people come and see the exhibition, thought it was a shame it would only be on for one night"

---

That afternoon two police officers knocked on their door asking to talk to Veronica. After giving their condolences they asked for their account of what happened at the opening and how they had behaved in the proceeding weeks. Both Logan and Veronica were close to tears when they recounted their unusual behaviour. The officers then informed them that they had received preliminary results from the autopsy suggesting that both had committed suicide with an overdose of morphine which had been prescribed to Bernie, but that Joel had died over an hour later. They left after giving Veronica a copy of the suicide note that had been addressed to her.

Dear Veronica,

I'm sure you are very angry with us at the moment, but hopefully you will understand in time. I nearly told you about my diagnosis so many times, but could never manage it. I have cancer and was given only a few months to live. The last two months have been hard but I managed with painkillers, but I decided I didn't want to struggle on in pain. Joel wants to come with me, and I've argued endlessly with him. I tried to change his mind, but I'm too tired to argue anymore. I hope that he changes his mind and that he doesn't follow me. If he doesn't please look after him for me.

Anyway I wanted to tell you how wonderful the exhibition was. It was a fitting end to my life, and I hope you will forgive me for the way I chose to leave. You are an amazing woman, and I hate to be the one putting you through more misery, but It was not my choice to make. I would have preferred to see your career and life develop because I'm sure it will be all you have dreamed of.

Lastly I want you to hold onto Logan. I hope you both know how special your relationship is. You are so lucky to have found such love so young, it's a precious thing, so don't ever let it go

I'm so glad that I had you in my life, and I'm sorry for leaving

Yours Always

Bernie

Veronica and Logan barely spoke for the rest of the day, choosing instead to sit closely on the beach, until it was time to start on dinner. They decided that they would head to San Francisco the next day to start arranging things after stopping by Hearst to explain the situation to their Professors. They were glad that they both had light schedules this semester and they could keep up with most of their work online.

--

The next week was a blur, Bernie and Joel's instructions for their funeral were straightforward, and Joel's sister was happy to follow their wishes. Logan took care of talking to the funeral directors and organising the wake at the gallery afterward. Veronica spent most of her time at the gallery, organising and packing up her, Joel and Bernie's personal possessions. She had Joel's delivered to his sisters, and shipped hers home. Until the will was read they didn't know what to do with Bernie's effects, in the end Veronica decided to leave them in the studio above the gallery till later.

The fate of the gallery was also unknown. Phil was keeping it open for the moment, showing the final exhibition, but they refused to sell any of the photos. Phil was kept busy between art lovers wanting to pay their respects, media vultures, and gawkers who came out of morbid curiosity. After being harassed a few times, Veronica made sure to keep out of sight. She had been devastated when several speculative articles had been published in local papers about their relationship and his interest in her. It had been revealed that her fiancée was Logan Echolls the author and actors son, which resulted in even more media attention. It seemed that after it was revealed that Bernie had committed suicide after being diagnosed as terminally ill that the media tried to find any new angle that could capture the public's interest, and they latched onto Logan and Veronica's past with a vengeance. Articles full of speculation about their mental state and relationship, full of the gruesome details of every tragedy in their past filled the gossip magazines.

Logan worried about Veronica. She wasn't sleeping well and her morning sickness was particularly bad. He took on as much as possible to spare her, but she refused to rest, working on assignments for her classes when she couldn't find anything else to do. Eventually Logan resorted to making her feel guilty about the baby, which finally made her spend some time in bed.

Keith arrived the morning of the funeral and they drove to the cemetery in silence. The funeral was relatively private, with no-one other than close friends and family informed of the time and location. There was more people at the wake, but due to the security organised Logan, onlookers were kept away.

Veronica spent most of the time staring at Bernie's pictures which had been left hanging, allowing Logan to discreetly deal with those who came up to give their condolences and inquire about what she intended to do next.

After a few hours she and Logan, Joel's sister and Phil gathered in the upstairs studio to meet with the Lawyer for the will reading. Joel had left all his effects to his sister, but Bernie's will was more complicated as he had property and the gallery as well as a personal fortune. Veronica gasped in shock when the Lawyer told her that excepting some of his works and an apartment which were intended for Phil, he had left his estate to her. The lawyer explained that Bernie had intended her to keep the gallery running, and that the total value of assets was on the order of 75 million dollars, including the apartment they had lived in, the gallery building, an arts centre building, several valuable paintings and other investments.

Logan and Veronica slowly walked back to their hotel afterwards. Neither speaking as they thought about what this meant. Veronica slowly started "I want to keep the gallery running for Bernie, but with the baby it's not good timing"

"What about Phil? Do you know his plans? Maybe you could do it together?"

"I'll ask him tomorrow, he has basically run the place for years, Bernie always admitted he was too easily distracted to do the day to day work"

"Let's not make too many decisions tonight. Everything can wait a few weeks"

"I love you Logan, I couldn't have done this without you"

"Love you too Ronnie"