A/N: So I decided to skip ahead, Veronica is home now from her internship in Washington. She now gets to tell Keith that she wants to move out and not into residence but into Weevil's house.

Chapter 12: Steak and Potatoes

Veronica had been home for three days already, she'd spent all three of those days either at the college making sure all her classes for next semester where ready and right, the office and her own apartment. She'd spent the first night unpacking, and washing all her clothes; while that doing that she'd spent some time with Wallace who was home from Chicago. The next day was spent at the college dealing with registration, she'd also managed to grab lunch with Mac which was nice since she had barely talked to her throughout the summer other than e-mail's back and forth.

Today was the day though, today was the day that Veronica talked to her dad about her moving in with Weevil; she was nervous after all he'd been reluctant in letting her spend more than a night at his apartment and when he had agreed to it; it was because he knew that he wasn't going to be able to stop Veronica from doing it. A soft sigh escaped her as she pulled dinner from the oven. Her dad would be home any minute, Weevil had sent her text about fifteen minutes ago saying he'd left the office and she'd been timing it since.

Veronica was in the middle of grabbing the plates from the cabinet when the door opened. Back Up rushed forward and greeted her dad. "Hey honey, smells great in here." He said as he came into the house, removing his jacket. "I thought it was my night to cook." Keith said eyeing her suspiciously. "Steak and potatoes? Alright, what'd you do?" "Why you of so little faith, can't a girl be a doting daughter?" Veronica asked blinking her baby blues at him. "I'm not convinced, but I like me some steak." Keith said as he sat down watching as she dished out the food.

They ate in silence for a few moments before Veronica spoke. "So you know how I mentioned living on campus this semester?" "I thought you already decided against that; 'it's too expensive dad' and 'I'm fine living at home' are both valid and familiar arguments used." Keith said as he cut into his steak. "Well yes, and those things still apply to a degree." A sigh escaped him as he set his fork and knife down and looked at her. "Alright, I knew you were up to something with the steak and potatoes. What's this degree?" He asked Veronica; who busied herself taking a drink from her glass staying quiet until it was back on the table. "Weevil, Eli asked me to move in with him." The calmness at the table dissipated.

"No Veronica, absolutely not." Keith said shaking his head as he cut into his food again, this time with a little more force than necessary. "You'd let me go live in residence; you've let me stay at his place for a weekend and he stayed with me in Washington for a week. I don't see why this is such a big deal." Veronica said as she cleaned up her plate, leaning against the sink as they talked. "You're not even twenty yet Veronica why do you need to live with your boyfriend? I agreed to weekends with him to be nice, but I'm not going to just let you live with him." She frown and crossed her arms over her chest.

"I don't need too, I want too." That was the difference, she wanted to try living with Weevil and from where she was standing this was a step their relationship could benefit from. "You know how well he's doing dad, and it's not like I'm running away to live with a guy I just met." This was Weevil, They'd dated in high school for almost a year, and had been together now for a year. The entire time he'd been out of prison he'd been on the straight and narrow. "I don't know Veronica, honey it just seems a little rushed don't you think. And you should be focusing on school." Sighing she frowned at him. "I can focus on school just as well there as I can here."

"I don't like it, he doesn't live in a good neighborhood Veronica." Veronica rolled her eyes at him, he was now grasping at straws. "Okay and I spend every weekend there and multiple days in the week there. The people there know me and associate me with Weevil." And even though he'd been phased from the PCHer's he still held some hold in the neighborhood, and now that he was getting his life on tract there was respect there too. "Why do you want to live with him so badly?" Keith asked that frown still on his face. "Because I think it's time…I mean if and I do mean if he and I ever plan on getting married living together is a good way to see if we actually mesh together." Keith groaned out loud.

"Please tell me you're not actually thinking of marriage." Veronica shrugged, she was a girl and it did cross her mind every now and again; but then again she wasn't girl so she understood why he would think she never thought about it. "I'm not, but I'd also like to know I'm not wasting my time in a relationship that's never going to progress." Veronica stated as she moved from the counter taking her dad's empty plate. "Don't use your logic on me." She was wearing him down and they both knew it. "I don't like it honey." "What if I agree to spend my spend one day a week here? Daddy/Daughter night." Keith was quiet as he seemed to think about it, they both knew she was going to live with Eli with or without his permission, but permission would be better.

"I don't like it, but I've never been able to stop you from doing something you had your mind-set on doing." A smile spread across her face as she moved around the table to hug him. "Thank you." Keith returned her hug with a sigh. "It's going to be pretty empty around here without you." "You'll have Back-Up and Alicia and you can have parent time without me walking in." Veronica held back a fake cringe at the idea; she was just happy that her dad had found someone who loved him. Because clearly her mom hadn't and that hurt…because Keith Mars deserved to be loved for the great man he was.

"I think I should make you take Back-Up, extra security. And sleep with your Taser on the night stand." Veronica rolled her eyes. "I'll talk to Weevil about getting a dog okay? I'll even let you train it, but I don't think it's necessary for me to sleep with the Taser out on the night stand. Anyone dumb enough to break in would have to get through Weevil, and you've seen him angry." Keith sighed knowing that she did have a point. "Besides the house is closer to the border and it's not like we live in the safest place, and let's not mention that I've spent several nights alone in a car while doing surveillance in area's that could be considered dangerous." Keith gave her a look that made her stop talking.

"That's not helping your cause any Veronica." "Really? I thought it was." She said trying to pull an innocent face as she headed towards her bedroom. "Just when are you planning to leave the nest again?" Keith teased as he moved from the island to the couch. "In a couple days, though Weevil is coming to get me in about twenty minutes to take me to finally see the house." Veronica shouted from her bedroom as she packed an overnight bag. "Are coming home tonight?"

Veronica came back into the living room. "I wouldn't wait up." She was planning on staying with Weevil, she missed him especially since she hadn't seen him since Washington. "Are you sure you want to live with him? Wouldn't you rather live on residence with Mac or something?" "I'm sure." Sighing he stood up and walked over to her hugging her. "Okay, but this will always be home Veronica." Veronica returned his hug, holding on tight. "I know dad."

"Goodnight kiddo." Keith released Veronica and headed down the hall to his room; the door shut behind him and she let out a sigh. As much as she wanted to go, to move in with Eli a part of her wanted to stay here…to stay with her dad where she knew she was safe from all harm. But Veronica knew she was going to have to leave home eventually and while a part of her had always thought she'd move out when she was off to University that had changed when she decided to go to Hearst. Things changed, dreams changed…Veronica still wanted a lot of things in life, be it working with the FBI or being a lawyer she had dreams and they included Eli. Scared or not she was sure this was what she needed to do.

Something she wanted to do.