A/N: Sorry for the short chapter here, but I needed to wrap up from the last one. Next one will be much longer! Promise!

Chapter Five: Losing Lilly All Over Again

"Daddy, is Aunt Veronica and Uncle Logan coming wid us?"

"No, Lilly, they can't come with us. They have to go back home."

"Why?"

Duncan groaned. The funny thing is, Logan and Veronica were wondering that same thing.

"Because they have very important things to do at home. They have people to take care of there."

"But can't they take care of me?"

"Sweetie, they'd love to take care of you, but you see—Aunt Veronica is going to be a very important person someday. She's going to chase bad guys and put them in jail. She is going to protect people like you every day, but there's a lot of people to protect, and she can't protect them all with us."

A tear formed in the corner of Veronica's eye.

"What about Uncle Logan?"

'Yeah, what about Uncle Logan?' Logan thought, feeling a little worthless now. 'He's got nothing important to do.'

"Well, he's going to run the world. "

Lilly giggled, running to hug her 'Uncle' Logan, who quickly swooped her up in his arms.

"Plus, keeping up with Aunt Veronica is a full time job," he joked, winking at Veronica, who, for the first time in several weeks, didn't get mad at the suggestion. She actually smiled back.

As Lilly hugged Logan goodbye, Duncan and Veronica shared a last embrace.

"Be good to him, V."

"Take care of yourself, Duncan. And Lilly."

"Take care of yourself, too, V. And him," Duncan pointed towards his best friend.

"Well, I can't make any promises there…"

"Seriously, Veronica."

"I WILL do my best, Duncan."

They shared one final hug, and Veronica opened her arms to a running Lilly.

"I miss you Aunt Veronica."

"Oh, I'll miss you, too, sweetie. Just keep your picture close to your heart and remember how much we love you, k?"

"You, too."

"I will."

"Be good to her, Logan. I know she's difficult, but I know she'll be worth it in the end."

"If she'll give me the chance to hang in there that long."

"She will. I mean, she might fight you sometimes, and you might have to hang on for dear life, but it's meant to be."

"When did you start acting all philosophical?"

"When I woke up from a dream life to the hard, cold, floor of reality and realized I had lost everything that was important to me. Including you, Brother. I'm sorry for the mess I made of things."

"Don't apologize. Shit happens. We made it through. I wish this wasn't goodbye."

"Don't lie, Logan. You don't do it well."

"Give me a break, man."

"I'll miss you. I really will."

"I know. I'll miss you, too, DK."

"Don't let her go."

"I can't."

"Logan, our pilot is ready to leave. He said there's a storm closing in."

"I love you, Lilly. Be good for your daddy."

"Please don't go!" Lilly cried. It nearly killed Veronica to board the plane while Lilly cried in her father's arms. Duncan had to hold her back to keep her from following them. Logan had to pull Veronica in the plane to keep her from running back.

As the door of the plane shut, Veronica beat his chest and cried, "I can't do this, Logan. I can't lose Lilly…again."

"It's not the same, Ronnie."

"No. This time is different. This time she's alive and well and I'm leaving her."

"She's not our Lilly."

"But she is."

"Ronnie. Our Lilly is gone."

"I know, Logan, but we could start over. You, me, Duncan and Lilly. Just like old times. Only this time we can do it right. Keep her out of trouble and away from the dangers that took her away the first time."

Veronica continued to pound his chest as he held her. He brought her down to a seat and buckled her seat belt and his. As they took off, the roar of the engine drowned out her sobs. Tears flowed from his eyes, too. He felt like he was leaving behind the only family he truly had left. Now he was all alone. It was just him. The only way he could survive was if she…

Seconds turned to minutes, and before long, they were both asleep. Veronica lay in his arms, feeling as peaceful as she ever had. After a while, she took a deep breath and the scent of him awakened her senses, and then her eyes. Her stirring roused him, as well.

"I'm sorry. I'm okay. I just fell apart for a minute. I guess the jet lag finally caught up to m…"

"Ronnie, you don't have to make excuses. I'm going to miss them, too. It was hard as hell for me to get on that plane. Especially since Duncan was right about everything. You have a very important life ahead of you. You will be important to a lot of people. You can't let them all down."

"Come on, Logan. I'm nobody. I'm stupid Veronica Mars from Neptune. All I'm good for is sticking my nose into everyone's business and ruining things for everyone."

Logan cupped her face in his hands.

"That's not true. Veronica, you've saved a lot of people. Duncan and little Lilly—your dad—me. Just to name a few. "

"But you're important. You're one of the rich and beautiful people."

"I'm nothing, Veronica. How hard was it for me to get on this plane. I have no one. I have money to keep me warm at night. That's it. I've lost everyone in my life that was important or they've left me…except for one person."

Veronica looked up.

"You are the only reason I have to keep breathing, Veronica. I know you aren't ready to have this talk, or whatever, but I need you to know this. No matter what you do in this life, you will always be THE most important person in the world to me. If you go, I have no reason to stay. I need you more than air. I don't care how hard you push or how far you run – I won't…I can't let you go."

Veronica looked at Logan in stunned silence. Tears still ran a small stream down her face. Suddenly, it was all clear to her. Why Duncan had brought them to Mexico. He was bringing them to say goodbye, sure, but he was bringing them back together. She knew that no matter what was behind them, in front of them, or in between them – it was them. The two of them together. She needed him, too. She could no longer deny it.

"Logan…"

"The plane will be landing in just a few short minutes. Please fasten your seatbelt and prepare for landing."

"Damn," Logan muttered.

They both took their seats for landing. There was a little turbulence, so talking was no longer an option. They finally landed, a little roughly, and were led off the plane.

"Come back to the Grand so we can finish our talk?" Logan asked, hopefully.

"I can't, Logan. I have got to study for finals. My dad will kill me if I don't get home and at least pretend to be a good student. Plus, I've got to get things lined up for Virginia and all…"

"Sure…"

"No, I'm not putting you off. Please just let me get through finals and we'll talk, okay? I'm done at the end of the week. Friday night. I promise. No interruptions."

"You've made that promise before, as I recall."

"Yeah, I don't think he will be interrupting this time. I'm all yours. I promise."

'I wish!' Logan thought, but instead said, "Fine. I'm holding you to that."

Veronica got in her car and drove home. She had to find a way to clear her mind and focus on finals. Plus, she had to find an apartment and get packed for her summer internship. All of this, and deal with Logan. Even though, just half and hour earlier, her mind was made up. Now, back on solid ground, she wavered. Her mind swirled. She turned on the radio, selecting a loud, mind-numbing song. Just another day in the life of Veronica Mars.