I apologize for taking so long to update. Life is kinda kicking my butt right now. Hope it's not so long for the next one.

Chapter 15: At Last

"Is that good?" Veronica asked, afraid Logan was disappointed.

As if he sensed her concern, he at once jumped up and wrapped his arms around her, picking her up and gently lying her on the bed. He covered her with himself and began to devour her in kisses. She quickly understood that he meant it was very good, and responded in kind. It didn't take long for him to have what passed for lingerie in the store off of her.

She quickly made off with his clothes, as well. The hunger was both too strong for both of them to take it slow and easy. They were both too eager for this moment to relish in it. As much as it felt like the first time, it was all too familiar. They knew each other too well to be shy. They knew what moves to make and what touches worked the best.

Logan held on as long as he could, but he could no longer hold back. Just as let go, Veronica, too, felt her release. They collapsed in each other's arms, breathless.

"I'm sorry. I know you were going for romantic, and I ruined it."

"What? Who? Where?" Veronica moaned.

Logan laughed.

Veronica turned over to meet Logan's eyes.

"It's okay. I…I…know how hard it's been for you. I'm the one who is sorry. Besides, it's not like I exactly asked you to slow down."

"I couldn't have even if you asked."

"I know. It's okay. There's plenty of time for romantic and slow."

"And I intend on making good on that. I want to make love to you so that you know how much I love you."

"Oh, I think the last ten minutes was a pretty good clue."

"I meant it, Veronica," he said, turning to face her. "I…"

She placed her fingers on his lips.

"I know you love me, Logan. I'm sorry it took me so long to realize that. And I'm even sorrier it took me so long to admit that I love you, too."

Logan searched her eyes for truth. He saw it.

"I love you, Logan Echolls. We can't change the past, but we can learn from it, and try hard to make a different future."

"I love you, Veronica," he said just as he rolled back on top of her.

This time was slow and romantic. He touched every inch of her from head to toe and felt the softness of her skin. She caressed each muscle and ran her fingers wildly through his hair as he touched her. After, they collapsed in each other's arms and fell asleep.

…

When the first rays of morning begin to break through the blinds, Veronica slowly got out of bed, quietly as to not disturb Logan. She dressed and let herself out of the house. She zipped her hoodie and headed out for a run. Even though her muscles were still sore and protested heavily at her movements, she pushed on. She knew that this past week was only a taste of the training she might really undergo someday if she joined the FBI full-time. She figured she might as well start getting in shape now. As she pounded out the first half of her mile, she didn't notice the black Dodge Charger parked a few hundred yards away…or the black SUV parked another hundred yards beyond that…or the black Lincoln in between them. At that very moment Veronica Mars had no idea how popular she was.

The sound of a bird chirping obnoxiously loud outside his window finally roused Logan. He smiled as he reached to put his arm around Veronica—only to find her side of the bed empty. Where her head had been a few hours earlier was a piece of paper. Logan shook his head as he read Veronica's note. He couldn't believe she would waste a perfectly good morning with running. Before, he probably would have been worried that she was more than literally running. He might have been worried that she was running away. Not anymore.

He got up and stumbled to the shower. He didn't even bother to go to his own bathroom. As he shampooed his hair with some herbal blend stuff he started to regret not walking a few extra feet to his own bathroom. He got out and grabbed a towel and wrapped it around his waist. He decided to make a nice little brunch they could enjoy when Veronica got back.

As Veronica made her way back around to her street, her phone rang. Expecting it to be Logan wondering where she had gotten off to, she instantly picked up.

"I'm almost back…"

"Do you even realize you're being watched?" the voice on the other end asked.

"Who is this?"

"The tooth fairy," the voice on the other end replied. Luckily, this whole FBI thing was coming naturally to Veronica. She finally recognized the sarcastic drippings of the agent who had spilled the beans to her Friday about the true nature of her internship this summer. She also was smart enough to know not to use his name or any reference to the FBI over the phone.

"So, Mr Fairy…was there something I can help you with?"

"Without making yourself obvious I want you to identify how many watchers you have, where they are, and I'll call you back in exactly 45 seconds."

The phone went dead before Veronica could really process anything that Agent Fuller had just said to her.

Quick, Veronica, the clock is ticking.

She put her hands on her legs, looking like she was winded. She put her left hand up to her neck and began the show of checking her pulse. She raised her other arm in the air as if she were looking at her watch. She hoped she was too far away for anyone to notice she wasn't wearing one. She turned slowly and pretended to focus on her wrist. Out of the corner of her eye she identified the Charger first, as it was the closest to her. She then began to stretch, extending her arms first. As she stretched her arms behind her back, she noticed the SUV then the Lincoln. She quit stretching and started walking slowly back towards her house. Her phone rang.

"Three."

"Where?"

"Black Charger about two hundred yards down the street—that's you, I'm assuming. Black SUV about 100 yards out—same side of the street—that would be Logan's men."

"And"

"Black Lincoln, somewhere in between them on the other side of the street."

"And who do you suppose that is?"

"The Sorokin contingent?"

"Very good, Veronica. Just be more aware. You're not ready to proceed with the plan just yet. We don't need you snatched up just yet."

Yet? What the…

"Take care, Veronica. Oh, and keep all this between us. No need for your boyfriend to be involved."

Her phone disconnected.

Veronica stood there for a moment, dumbfounded, then slowly began walking back to the townhouse. She entered to find an assortment of fruit and muffins on the table. She smelled the delicious aroma of coffee and a glass of orange juice was sitting in front of two plates.

Logan came in wearing a white cotton robe.

"Hmmm….anything under that robe?"

"Why don't you come see?"

"I think I need a quick shower."

"Me, too."

"You look like you just had one."

"I did."

"So why do you need another?"

"Because my mind is awfully dirty right now."

Veronica laughed and slapped at him playfully as he walked by.

Give me ten minutes. Don't start without me.

As soon as she had walked into her bedroom, he said, "Yeah, you, too."

He smiled that trademark jackass-eating-briars grin and spun around, headed for her room.

Just as Veronica closed her eyes and let the water fall over her head she felt someone slip in behind her.

"Logan, what the…"

"I told you, I needed a shower…"

"You are going to be the death of me, Lo..ohhhhhh"

So much for a quick shower.