A/N: Okay, time to meet Wallace off the plane. Once again, huge thanks to all you fab reviewer types - you're all so cool!

(For disclaimer, etc. - see chapter 1)

Chapter 22

Veronica wasn't really sure how to feel as she waited at the gate for Wallace to arrive back in Neptune. Of course she missed him when she was away at the FBI, but she missed everybody and his distance didn't matter much then. Since arriving home in Neptune, seeing her Dad and all her other friends, she felt her BFF's absence keenly. Mac was awesome but understandably very much caught up in her own stuff right now, and it would be so cool to catch up with Wallace and get his own brand of advice and opinion on her current issues. Maybe she would've felt only excitement if she was stood here alone or even with Mrs Fennel and Darryl in tow. Instead she was surrounded by Logan, Mac, and Dick, two of which were perhaps the least likely people to want to meet her friend off a plane.

There was no denying that what Mac had been telling Veronica about Dick was true. He was so different with her to how he'd ever been before. Not completely unrecognisable as the jackass that graced the halls of Neptune High and later Hearst College, but nicer, sweeter even, especially where the mother of his unborn child was concerned.

Wallace's face was still a picture when he came through the gate, rushing easily to Veronica and hugging her tight, and then looking beyond at the rest who had come to welcome him home. As if Mac being pregnant wasn't enough of a shock, Dick announcing loud and proud that he was the Daddy only made matters worse. One look at Logan had any hint of a smile that was left on Wallace's face gone in an instant and immediately Veronica wished she had declined all offers and come here alone. Never had she hated a decision more than now, as Dick offered to take everyone out to lunch to talk, only to have Wallace refuse. He wanted to go home and sleep off the plane journey, which they all understood, but it broke Veronica's heart just a little not to get to spend any time with her best friend even now.

She was no fun at all at lunch, since she did agree to go when the others cajoled her. They noticed, she knew they did, and Logan tried to apologise for making things awkward. It wasn't really his fault, of course. The chances were that Wallace really was just tired and needed to go home to rid himself of the jet-lag before he caught up with her. Veronica wanted to believe it, but she couldn't quite let herself.

It was later when she was home alone, having parted ways with her boyfriend and other favourite couple, when she realised that it wasn't just her paranoia getting to her. The knock on the door was familiar and welcome, as was the genuine smile and hug she received from Wallace. It was barely four hours since they fetched him from the airport, there was no way he had slept enough yet, and she immediately called him on what seemed to be deceit.

"I slept on the plane" he shrugged, looking just a little guilty for lying as Veronica ushered him inside, "I'm sorry, V, I didn't mean to be so harsh, but I kinda wasn't expecting the welcoming committee" he admitted.

"I know, and I'm sorry too" she said immediately, looking even more guilty than her friend as they sat down on the couch together, "It all just happened in a rush, and I guess I didn't think it through. That was just way too many surprises for you all at once"

"Ain't that the truth?" Wallace chuckled, shaking his head, "Mac and Dick Casablancas? And a baby on the way? That's crazy!" he said definitely.

"True dat" Veronica replied with a nod of her head, "and believe me, I was shocked and a little disgusted too when she first told me. I honestly thought her life was over" she admitted openly, "but then she and Dick got closer, like genuinely closer, and he's really surprised me with how… decent he can be" she explained, even as Wallace's eyes grew comically wide.

"Dick Casablancas? Decent? Man, things can really change over a Summer!" he declared with enthusiasm, "Last I heard, he was one of the assholes forwarding home-made porn of my best friend and her boyfriend around campus" he reminded Veronica none too quietly.

"Oh, I'm aware of Dick's downsides, believe me" his friend agreed, "but he really has changed since he and Mac got together. I didn't know he knew how to be an adult, but he's getting pretty close" she explained, knowing it would be hard for Wallace to believe until he saw it with his own eyes.

Of course, now he was back home, he'd probably get to see a lot of it. He must've also noticed by now that Veronica herself was no longer with Piz but with Logan, since he was right there with her at the airport and holding her hand on the way back to the car. Veronica almost feared her best friend's reaction to that and would rather not ask until she had too. Instead she focused on asking Wallace how things were in Africa, something she was interested in knowing anyway.

"It was good" he told her, "A real experience. Man, Veronica, you see stuff on the TV and all, you think you know what's going on in the world, but damn" he shook his head, "I saw some things I kinda wished I hadn't. In fact after the first week, I was thinking about coming home" he admitted.

"But you didn't" said Veronica pointlessly, smiling only because she was so proud of what her friend had done by staying.

"No, I didn't" he agreed, "And I am totally glad about that too. I learnt a lot, and I really feel like I helped some people. Maybe only a little bit, but it feels good to do it" he smiled, "Gave me some perspective too" he went on to explain, "About life and all. Makes me damn thankful for all the things I have. Sure, it ain't as much as some folks, like the 09ers and everything, but I got family and friends, and a safe place to lay my head at night. That's a whole lot more than some people got"

Veronica nodded in understanding, unable to give a verbal answer. She couldn't imagine what the people went through in those countries, the families broken by war, the children forced into poverty, into battle. Her heart broke for those in the world that could not be easily saved and yet swelled at the thought of her friend Wallace making a difference in even a few of their lives.

"I'm proud of you, Wallace Fennel" she told him truthfully, almost to the point of tears, which surprised him just a little.

"Yeah, well, it's not like I'm the only one" he shrugged, "But y'know, V, you could learn a little something from all this just the same as me" he told her, looking a little too serious, "I ain't sayin' I understand what happened with you and Piz or with you and Logan, but I do know that whatever goes down, you and Echolls seem to end up back together one way or the other"

"Wallace, I..." she tried to interrupt but he shook his head to stop her and carried on regardless.

"No, I get it, I do" he assured her, "I know you never loved Piz that way, and I probably shoulda tried harder to help both of you see it, being my two best friends and all, but that's done now" he shrugged, "Fact is, if you love Logan, I mean serious deep meaningful all the way epic love" he told her, "Then you gotta stop playin' round and make it work, girl. I know you been through a lot, both of you, but life could be a whole lot worse than the likes of us got it"

Veronica wasn't sure whether to laugh or cry. What Wallace was saying was deadly serious and she knew he was also perfectly right. At the same time, she was just so indescribably relieved that he wasn't bawling her out for her treatment of Piz, or berating her for putting her heart on the line one more time with Logan. He truly was the best friend she ever had in her life.

"I missed you so much" Veronica told him as she launched herself at Wallace and hugged him tight.

Her BFF was just a little overwhelmed by her reaction, but honestly, he really had missed her too. He hugged her back just as fiercely and smiled.

"Hey, girl, don't you go getting soft on me" he warned her jokingly, "And you better keep this hugging thing on the down-low, in case my woman gets to hear about it..."

Wallace knew that would get him some attention. Maybe Veronica's wide-eyed expression when she pulled away then ought to have caused offence, but it didn't. He knew his news would surprise her. He hadn't exactly dated in a big way since Jackie, and a charitable experience trip to Africa was hardly the usual place to pick up a new girlfriend.

"Explain please" Veronica prompted as she settled down on the couch beside him to hear the tale.

"Well, her name is Letitia, she lives in Portland, and she's in college" he explained briefly, "She was on the same program as me, we worked together, and then... hell, Veronica, I just might be in love!"

Dick pulled the car up outside Mac's house and was out of the door before she had a chance to protest. She had hoped to keep him in the car so her parents didn't get to see or worse talk to him, but clearly it was not to be. He seemed hell-bent on being a gentlemen, especially since they started sleeping together. Mac couldn't find fault with it, and assumed he was just trying to be the oppoiste of his usual way with the girls he used and walked away from. It was incredibly sweet, but now they were at her house, where her parents may well be watching out of the window, and that made Mac more than a little uncomfortable.

"Dick" she said, sounding strained as she got out of the car through the door he just opened for her, "Um, you don't have to walk me to my door and everything" she told him, but he'd already lifted her purse out of her hands and shook his head.

"Babe, this is the full Dick Casablancas service" he told her with a wink as he helped her out the car and put an arm around her shoulders as they walked up to the front door.

Mac felt so awkward as they arrived on the porch and she reached to take her purse from her boyfriend. He was going to kiss her, she knew he was, and it wasn't as if she was adverse to the idea as such, she just feared getting caught. It would be embarrassing enough for any young woman to have her Mom or Dad open the door on her whilst she was kissing her man, but it was ten times worse when said man was the very same that had 'knocked up' said daughter.

Mr and Mrs Mackenzie had only met Dick Casablancas once and that was the other time that had begun with a kiss on the porch, and ended with the revelation that dear little Cindy was expecting the spawn of Dick. She really couldn't go though another embarrassing experience like that right now, and it made her extra glad she had decided now was a good time to move out. In a few weeks, this would never be a problem again, but right now that problem remained.

"Okay, thanks for lunch" she said quickly, leaning in to plant a quick kiss on her boyfriends lips.

Dick had other ideas as he put his hands to her face and held her close for a long moment, kissing her til her toes curled and she forgot what day of the week it was. Poor Mac completely forgot where she was or what she was doing until the door opened, causing her and Dick both to jump what felt like ten feet in the air.

"Hey, Mr Mac" the blonde greeted the older man then, with far too much exuberance and a wide grin he didn't entirely mean.

"Good afternoon, Dick" Mac's father replied with a nod, "I'm glad you're here I was hoping to talk to you" he told him, as Mac squirmed.

"Dad, please..." she urged him not to start a fight here on the doorstep, as her eyes flitted around to see if the neighbours or any passers-by might notice.

"Now, Cindy, I'm going to be reasonable about this" her father assured her, as he moved away from the door and ushered the young couple inside.

Before long, Mac and Dick were sat a deliberate six inches apart on the couch, feeling so much younger than their twenty years and as if they were about to get scolded for something awful. It was a surprise to both of them when Mr Mackenzie began talking quite reasonably, as promised, and seemed to be offering to shake Dick's hand.

"I'd like to tell you, Dick" he said seriously, "that whilst I don't entirely approve of how things began between you and my daughter, I respect the fact that you're standing by her in this, and doing the right thing" he told a shocked Dick who only realised he should be taking the offered hand and shaking it when Mac shoved an elbow in him.

"Uh, thanks... sir" he added awkwardly as the men shook hands.

"You can just stick with Mr Mackenzie for now" he advised him with a tight smile, "I know a great deal of young men who would bolt at the first sign of responsibility, and honestly, well, I'll admit I expected you to do just that" he explained, "but so far things seem to be going well, you're showing a commitment to Cindy and the child you've both created. I can't really be mad about that, can I?"

"Guess not" Dick agreed with a nod, "but y'know it's not like I'm with Mac... er, Cindy" he amended, "just 'cause she's having my kid or whatever" he explained, pushing his fringe off his face, "I totally love her and everything" he assured Mac's father, though it was a toss up whether he or the girl in question were more stunned that he'd come out and said it in quite that way.

It was only when her father looked at her then, and Dick followed his gaze, that Mac realised how much this moment had moved her. Tears were streaking down her face completely unnoticed by the girl herself, and she felt ridiculous when it was brought to her attention.

"I'm so dumb" she remarked as she ran her hands over her cheeks and sniffed, "I'm not sad, I swear, I... I'm really happy" she promised the two most important men in her life.

It was all they needed to hear.

To Be Continued...