Chapter 27

"That was so much fun! I really didn't want to leave." Veronica said as they were exiting the airport. Logan lauged and threw his arm over her shoulder. He kissed her cheek and looked at Duncan who was also laughing.

"We couldn't stay there forever, we had to come back and we can always go back next summer, to celebrate our graduation."

"Thank you Logan, but didn't you say it would be for our honeymoon?"

"Well since I haven't proposed yet, I think we've got time before we reach that point of our lives."

"You're right, the only thing that matters right now is helping your mom."

"Yeah and how much do you bet paparazzi are waiting for us at the hotel?"

"A lot of money, not mine, Duncan's money and then we'll share." Veronica said with a smile.

"You think you're being funny?"

"As a matter of fact, I do."

"Smartass." he said as he threw their bags in the trunk. He followed Veronica and Duncan in the limo and gave DK's adress to the driver.

"Are you sure you don't want to stay over tonight? My mom is somewhere in Europe at the moment, I'm sure my father wouldn't mind.

"We can't, I promised Keith to bring back his daughter after dinner."

"He 's right, I will just drop the gift I got for Jake and then we'll go to the hotel to see how Lynn is doing."

"Okay." Duncan said, knowing nothing he could say or do would change their minds. He leaned against the back of his seat and closed his eyes.

"Dad, I'm home!" Duncan yelled walking into the house, he dropped his bags in the entrance and walked further in the house, followed by Logan and Veronica.

"Duncan! It's good to have you home." he said, hugging his son, he then turned towards Veronica and Logan who were still behind Duncan. He shook Logan's hand and then when it was Veronica's turn, he seemed ill at ease, he did not know what to do, how to greet her. She surprised him by walking towards him and hugging him, to say he was shocked is an euphemism, she smiled at him when she pulled away.

She realized during her holidays in Hawaii with the guys that Jake had already lost a daughter and if she did not allow him in her life, he would lose another one. She wanted to get to know Jake Kane, not the businessman or Neptune's golden chid, but her biological father. She knew what she was doing and was afraid to hurt Keith, but she also wanted to get to know him better, she had nothing to lose. She knew it would be hard to trust him since he has lied about Lilly's death but he is still herfather.
"How are you?" she asked him as they all sat in the living room with a drink in hand.
"I'm fine, business is fine."

"Good." she said, then she put her drink on the table and walked towards her handbag. She pulled out a small pakage and gave it to Jake who looked at her surprised.

"It's a little thing I found on a market and I thought you might like it, if you don't like it, you can always..."

"I love it, it's really beautiful." he replied, looking at the small bracelet in his hand. an you please help me to put it on?"

"Are you sure? Because it's not really..."

"I'm sure Veronica." he replied holding his wrist. He smiled when he saw her get up and help him to put it on, his smile grew wider. He kissed her cheek and watched her smile before sitting back next to Logan who took her hand in his.

"Veronica!" Lynn said seeing her with her son, she smiled widely before hugging them. "How was your flight?"

"Perfect, the jet Jake lent us is pretty great, mom you should have seen the hotel and the beaches."

"Don't worry honey, I will, things have been pretty crazy lately."

"I'm sure, so how are you doing and please don't lie to me, I'm no longer in Hawaii. I don't need to be protected, I saw the paparazzi at the front door. I'm not a child, you can start treating me like an adult."

"Okay, your father went crazy when he got the papers and kind of destroyed the house, the press is having a field day with that. The paparazzi are following me everywhere but things are good, I'm no longer with Aaron, life is going to be better for us, he will no longer be able to hurt us."

"What about the custody? Didn't he fight it?"

"No, I told him I would make public some of your medical records, believe me when I say he didn't try anything."

"So it's over?" Logan asked her, not wanting to believe his luck. Lynn smiled and nodded.

"It's over