Meg couldn't stop laughing. She wasn't sure if it was the alcohol, the knowledge that Logan was free, or the amazing man with his arm wrapped around her waist. Maybe it was all three, it didn't matter, and she was having the time of her life.

"Meg?" Luke's voice was the perfect blend of amusement and concern, and it just made her laugh harder. "Meg, you alright?"

"Peaches," she replied, leaning over to kiss him. They were standing with a bunch of his baseball buddies as she did her best to avoid the crowd of girls she had once called her friends. Instead of being friends with that "homicidal maniac, like-father-like-son" Logan, she was with poor, sweet, innocent Logan, who no one had stood by. Meg wasn't sure how it had happened, but suddenly, she was a martyr again. People couldn't stop talking about how Meg hadn't changed; she'd only seen what others couldn't. The end result were rumors of her and Logan, Meg becoming the pretty pretty princess, and Veronica as the biggest bitch in school again, this time for turning her back on Logan. In total, it drove Meg insane. Damn was it funny though.

Luke gave her another concerned look. "You done with this," he asked, trying to grab the cup out of her hands.

Meg snatched it away, and leaned back on him, letting him catch her weight. "I am having a blast. I haven't been this free in forever!" She threw her arms back and closed her eyes, swaying to the music.

"Baby? Meg, babe, you're too drunk." Meg could hear the worry in Luke's voice, as his hands grasped her waist tighter. He was lifting her up, holding her against him, and Meg was surprised to feel how strong he was. She let her eyes stay shut for another moment, then stood up, and grabbed his face. Luke gave her a concerned look, his eyes warm, so intensely focused. Meg felt her heart clench, staring at him, wondering how she had ever looked past him, thinking of Cole, of Duncan, and seeing how much more Luke was. Luke was saying something, his arm sliding under her knees to pick her up, and she let him, allowing his voice to pass over her, his calm soothing voice.

"Luke," she asked, her hand cradling his cheek.

"Yeah?" They had reached the couch, and he sat down, still holding her is his lap. "Do you need to throw up, or some water?"

"No I don't need to throw up," Meg shouted indignantly. She suddenly realized how drunk she was and let out a little giggle. "Sorry." She struggled to sit up, pulling her legs onto the floor, and wrapping her arm around Luke's neck. Luke was still staring at her and she suddenly felt shy, didn't want to say what she was thinking. Holding her breath, she pushed her face into his neck. She held it for a second, letting the warmth of his neck and the scratchy stubble of his jaw rub against her. "I love you," she whispered, almost hoping he didn't hear her.

"What?" Luke pulled her forward, his hand bracing her back. "Meg, you're drunk, you'll regret it tomorrow."

"I love you," she replied more firmly. Luke opened his mouth to say something, but she covered his mouth with her hand. "I'm not drunk, I'm going to remember this tomorrow, and I am not going to regret it. I'm not going to regret you." She felt her voice catching, and turned away slightly, staring at the drunken girls and tripping boys, the people she had grown up around, the people who had stopped growing up.

"What about Logan?" Meg looked at Luke in surprise. "Logan is my best friend." She felt the words slip so easily from her mouth. It was true, he was the first best friend she had ever truly had, someone to share all her secrets with, and hold her hand when she was scared. Logan loved her without reservation, but he wasn't in love with her. "He's just my friend."

"So you guys have slumber parties and paint each other's nails?" Luke's voice was light, but it had a note of uncertainty.

"No sleepovers, but he has painted my nails." Meg bent down and kissed him again, letting her cheek rest against his. "We're just friends." Her voice gave out to a whisper. She felt Luke's body shift, and her body fell backwards. Luke's face loomed over her, blocking her view of everything else. His face was more serious that she had ever seen it, and she felt her stomach recoiling. This was what Duncan looked like, when he had ended things. Instead of her loving sweet boyfriend, he was someone else entirely. Her voice caught in her throat; she didn't even have the guts to speak, but she pushed through. "Luke?"

"I love you too." His voice was strong and calm, as it had always been. "I love you too Meg."

Meg felt tears coursing down her face, even as a huge smile covered her face. Luke grinned, and then bent down, kissing her. She felt his weight fall on her, and for the first time, in a very long time, Meg felt like the Glenda Logan accused her of being. Happy, secure and in love.

Logan shrugged his shoulders again, trying to regain the joy he had felt at the beginning of the night. A run-in with Veronica always wore him down, made him feel like his edges were sticking out. His eyes scanned the room again. There was Madison, alternately bitching and flirting with Dick; Casey with the usual bevy of women in his lap; Beaver laughing on the couch with some kid from the baseball team. There were all of them; his crew, his friends, the people who had stuck with him, despite all the shit that had happened in the last year. Who followed him because of his star power, because of what he knew he was capable of. They didn't even manage to get to him the way she did. What was it that Meg had said, about her burrowing under the skin? He could see her across the room, talking with some basketball guy. Logan suddenly realized he hadn't seen Wallace in awhile; maybe that's why she had been so prickly, so hard to please. He shut his eyes briefly, than took another sip from the bottle. No more making excuses for her, New Year new people new obsession. Just no more Veronica Mars.

As he brushed past another group of people, a hand shot out to grab his. Logan turned to see Valerie standing there, grinning, without a pout, or a head tilt. Her chest was thrust forward, and when she noticed him glancing down her grin only got bigger. "How's it going Logan?"

"Better," Logan replied, taking a quick sip of his drink. "You?"

"Still working on who to ring in the New Year with. Interested?"

"What happened to the coy pouting?" Logan questioned, a smirk blooming on his face.

"I thought it was your thing, but then realized it really wasn't mine." Valerie stuck her hand on her hip. "So?"

"So what?" Logan drawled, taking his time now as he looked over her body. The lush curves that had seemed too much before were looking better and better.

"Interested?" Her voice had somehow managed to become huskier, and Logan felt himself moving closer to her.

"I'm at least curious," he replied. His interest was pulled away when he noticed Meg and Luke making out on the couch. They looked more intense than he had ever seen them before, and he felt a twinge of worry. He trusted Luke though, so he tried not to laugh as he watched Meg pull Luke down closer to her, unaware of all her viewers.

Valerie noticed Logan's attention had wavered, and turned to see what he was looking at. "Oh," she said coolly, turning back to look at him. She shoved him lightly with her fingertips. "You get one more chance Echolls," she said coolly, before literally sashaying away.

Logan watcher her go, appreciative of the way her butt swayed back and forth.

"Could you be more obvious," a voice crisply asked from besides him.

"Ms. Mars," Logan acknowledged, not even turning towards her. "I'd hoped our last conversation was it for the evening."

"One can't always get what they want," Veronica replied, her voice slightly slurring.

"Are you drunk?" Logan asked incredulously, before grabbing her glass. "You've barely finished half!" Veronica grinned at him goofily, and Logan couldn't help but laugh. "Jesus Veronica, I thought you were a light weight but this is ridiculous."

She grinned up at him. "You're fun when you laugh." She pondered that a moment, and let her hand lay on his chest. "Well only if you aren't doing something morally stupid or reckless. Then you're funny."

"You're lecturing me while drunk," Logan asked, amused.

"It's what I do best," Veronica replied, giving him a little salute

"Okay Mars." Logan lifted her hand off his chest and placed it on the wall besides them. "You have fun tonight, go easy on the punch." He started to move away, but stopped when Veronica grabbed his arm. She began to wobble, forcing Logan to grab her and lean against the wall.

"You can't be this drunk," Logan snapped. "It was half a glass of punch."

"Actually 3 and a half, " Veronica replied. "Casey made me more."

Logan rolled his eyes. "You don't trust me making you a drink, but Casey Gant is trustworthy?"

"He likes kool-aid," Veronica replied grinning.

"Glad to hear it," Logan said, scanning the room. He didn't want to leave her alone, but there was no way he was going to baby-sit his ex-girlfriend on New Year's Eve. He caught sight of Beaver out of the corner of his eye. "BEAV!"

Cassidy whirled around and hurried over to Logan. "Hey man, what's up?"

"You want to hang out with Veronica for a bit?"

"Uh, I don't know…" Cassidy trailed off, looking uncomfortably at Veronica, who was swaying.

"Oh yay, Cassidy!" Veronica smiled happily, and gave him a huge hug.

Logan laughed at the uncomfortable expression on Cassidy's face. "All right man see you later… I have to go find someone." Ignoring Cassidy's pleas and Veronica's giggling, Logan determinedly got himself lost in the crowd. He figured Duncan would find Veronica or maybe Wallace. She wasn't his responsibility. Finding Valerie and having some fun were.

He got annoyed fifteen minutes later when he couldn't find Valerie or any other hot chick. When did a Casablancas party let him down for easy ass? Logan found Dick hanging out with a few other buddies. "Hey, where'd all the girls go?"

"Dancing in the living room. There are some fine classy ladies in there."

"Classy ladies? Dick, there are no classy ladies here. I want to get with some skanky girl."

"Well your ex is getting wild in the living room, you can hit that.

"What?" Logan asked perplexed. "Which ex?"

"Ronnie. Damn can she move." Logan turned to look in the direction Dick was facing and was met with the site of Veronica bee-bopping around, her arms around Casey Gant's neck. Logan caught her eye, and she waved gaily at him, motioning him to come over.

He laughed so hard tears came to his eyes, as he watched Veronica thrust her butt out as "My Humps" came on. She shouted something dragging Beaver towards her.

"The Beav's doing well for himself."

Logan grabbed Dick neck, and ruffled his hair. "Watch out for her, will you?"

"Hell yeah. This is going to be a sweet new year!" Dick high-fived Logan and wandered back into the living room. Logan shook his head, and moved in the opposite direction. Beaver had obviously failed at watching Veronica, and Dick really couldn't be trusted. He knew Veronica wouldn't want him watching after her, so he figured it was necessary to find Duncan. His eyes wandered the mass of people in front of him, and he wanted to groan. Yeah, if he couldn't find one hot chick, how was he going to find Duncan?

Twenty minutes later he was beginning to get pissed off. He made another round of the rooms, and was surprised to find Veronica leaning against a table, swatting away Dick's arm.

"No Dick, I want to dance!" she slurred, shoving his arm away.

"Promised Logan Ronnie. You need to behave. But if you want to behave on your knees Dick's all for that." Dick leered at Veronica and pulled her body closer to his.

"Thanks Dick." Logan slammed his arm down on Dick's shoulder, causing him to jump back.

"Yeah sure thing, you can watch after her now. Don't say I didn't do a great job."

Logan shoved him hard. "Yeah you're a regular knight in shining armor."

Dick saluted Logan, shot Veronica another look, and wandered off again.

Veronica pulled from the table again, and stumbled. "Woah babe." Logan grabbed her around the waist, and pushed her back towards the table.

"Get off me, Logan." Veronica shoved Logan, using all of her body weight. He caught her again, and pushed her back.

"How much did you have to drink Veronica, do you remember?"

"A bottle." Logan felt his heartbeat slow down.

"So you actually drank a lot," he confirmed.

"Yeah. It's normal." She swayed. She suddenly grabbed his face, forcing him to stare her in the eyes. "This is normal, right Logan?"

Logan pushed a strand of hair out of her face, and tried to smile. "I think that normal is whatever you want it to be."

She smiled softly, then nuzzled her face into his neck, hot breaths of air causing his body to twitch. "Normal?" she whispered, brushing her lips on the underside of his throat.

"No, not normal." Logan pushed her away, then was forced to grab for her when she stumbled. "Cheating on Duncan is not normal Veronica. You'll regret it in the morning." He stared at the love of his life, lips swollen, blonde wisps in her face, and wanted nothing more than to shove her up against the wall and make love to her, just so they could have one untainted memory for once.

"But you said I could make normal." Her voice was petulant, and she reached for him again, rubbing her face against his. "I like it scruffy," she moaned, pressing herself further into him.

Logan shut his eyes tightly trying to memorize the feeling of her body held against his. Taking a shuddering breath, he grabbed her upper arms and pushed her away again. "I'm not normal," he said firmly, staring into her eyes. "Veronica, look at me." Veronica's glazed eyes focused on him, and she smiled a goofy smile. "I'm not normal, remember? Duncan's your normal."

Her eyes began to fill with tears, and Logan's heart clenched. He wanted to kiss the tears away, tell her he loved her, and just be with her for once. To be selfish. But he knew in the ending, it would just be another regret on her part, and another reason to turn to bottle on his. "I'm you're favorite mistake, right?"

He held his breath waiting for her response, but she said nothing, tears still brimming in her eyes. Finally one tear broke free, and began its descent down her face. Logan couldn't help but brush it away with the pad of his thumb.

"Shit I've been looking for you everywhere!" Logan broke away from Veronica at the sound of Duncan's voice.

"She's down for the count DK, you might want to take her home."

Duncan smiled at his girlfriend, pushing the hair out of her face. "What happened to you babe?" Veronica didn't respond still staring at Logan, never breaking eye contact.

Duncan looked at Logan. "Is there a reason she's crying?"

Logan shrugged his shoulders. "I wouldn't let her dance anymore. You know about Veronica and control."

Duncan snorted, then wrapped his arm around Veronica's shoulders. "C'mon baby, lets get you home. You had fun didn't you?"

Veronica seemed to break from her trance suddenly, and burst out, "It was the wrong song."

Logan and Duncan both looked at her confused. "What babe?" Duncan asked.

"You played me the wrong song," Veronica repeated, her eyes less glazed, focused squarely on Logan. "It wasn't about mistakes."

"What is she talking about?" Duncan asked, but Logan ignored him.

"You're not even giving me that Veronica?" Logan couldn't keep the bitterness out of his voice. Leave it to Veronica to let the bitch out even while drunk.

"No. You aren't. You never were. It was the wrong song."

Duncan's standing in between them, looking back and forth at his best friend and his girlfriend. "What is going on?"

"What song?" Logan asked.

Veronica shook her head, and darted a glance at Duncan, who was watching her, anger in his face. She pressed her lips together and began to turn around, but Logan grabbed her arm. He felt Duncan shoving him, but he pushed him away and asked again, "What song Veronica?"

She let out a shaky breath and began to sing softly, "If it makes you happy, it can't be that ba-aaa-ad. If it makes you happy, then why the hell are you so sad?" Logan smiled at her lilting voice. "Thought you didn't like Sheryl."

"She speaks the truth," Veronica replied softly.

"Does it make you happy?"

"What the hell are you two talking about?" Duncan snapped, still perplexed.

They both ignored him, focused on one another. "Yes."

Logan smiled. "But sad?"

"Yes."

Logan shook his head. "Veronica fucking Mars."

Veronica tilted her head at him. "What does that mean, anyway?" She tried to grab for Logan but missed falling backwards. Two sets of arms reached out and caught her. She tried to guess which pair she liked more, which pair was her lovers, which pair her stability. They all felt like the same thing. Duncan was standing behind her, and roughly pulled her away from Logan, holding her flush against his body.

"She's drunk Logan," he warned, glaring at his best friend.

"I never would have guessed," Logan quipped. He pushed the blonde curl that was hanging into her face. Leaning down, he looked her squarely in the eye and said, "It means that you are one of a kind and you never cease to amaze."

"Oh," she breathed still staring at him. She tried to get her hands out of Duncan's hands but she couldn't. "I wanna stay," she whispered.

"We need to go babe, you're drunk."

"Can't go home, dad'll kill me."

"We'll go back to my place," Duncan soothed, wrapping another arm around her. He gave Logan a brief glance full of warning, and Logan responded with a little bow.

"I don't want to sleep with you," Veronica said, and she seemed to be repeating herself because she said it even louder again.

Logan coughed, trying to cover his laugh. "I'm uh, going to go mingle. You two love birds have fun."

Veronica looked at him with tear filled eyes, before breaking into tears. "I don't wanna," she wailed. Logan shrugged. DK's problem now; she always had been.