AN: This is my

Mac watched Veronica disappear down the hallway before she turned back look at Dick, who was still sitting on the couch. He was staring down at her with a smirk on his face, his beer loose in his hands.

She glowered at him comically. "You look like the cat who ate the canary."

His grin widened. "And might I say that canary was delicious."

Deciding she was at a disadvantage sitting on the floor, Mac set her empty beer bottle on the coffee table and climbed up onto the overstuffed chair to face him. She settled herself into the cushions, all the time supremely aware of his blue eyes piercing into her.

When she finally met his gaze, Dick said, "Why didn't you stay that night? Was it so bad?"

She choked. "What?"

It was odd to see Dick looking so vulnerable. His expression softened and he repeated, "Was it so bad?"

"No," the word came out strangled. "Don't say that."

"Well, what am I supposed to think? I've spent the past eight years thinking that it was a fuckin' dream, Mac…that I'd hallucinated the whole night. I mean…God, Mac, I would have given anything to know for sure that it was real."

"So you didn't know for sure?"

He leaned forward and set his beer next to hers, turning each of them so that the labels faced the same way. He ran a hand through his hair and then blew out a breath.

She tore her eyes from the bottles to look at him. "You're stalling, Dick."

"I always wondered," he admitted quietly, finally looking over at her. "But I couldn't settle it as truth because you never acknowledged it."

"When would I have acknowledged it to you, Dick? I haven't seen you in years, and what was I supposed to do? When you came to my apartment, should I have opened the door and started with, 'Hey, Dick, I haven't seen you since we fucked'?"

He looked angry. "That wasn't fucking to me, Mac, and hell if it was to you."

She had no idea what compelled her to do it, but she said, "What do you know, you didn't even remember it."

"Oh-ho, I remember it plenty, and now that I know it wasn't a figment of my imagination, I'm thinking it was just as good as I've always thought it was. What I can't figure out is why you've pretended it never happened?"

"I never pretended it never happened!" she objected, but he cut her off.

"No, Mac, I don't know…if you would have just stayed that night…if we would have woken up together, I don't know what would have happened, but I think it could have been a good thing."

"Like a weekend in bed?" Mac scoffed.

"Well, yeah, for sure as hell that. Probably a few good weekends like that, but more than that. Don't you see?"

"You would have thrown me away with the first whiff of the right blonde walking by; you can't even deny it."

"Why do you do that?"

"Do what?"

"Assume that I would do something with absolutely no proof of how I would act."

"I think I had plenty of proof—high school and beyond, Dick. I pretty much lived at your house senior year. It was no secret—"

"I was with Madison most of that year, and besides, what would you know of my fidelity?"

Mac blinked at the mention of Madison. She picked at her knee uncomfortably. Finally she conceded, "You're right, Dick. I know nothing of your fidelity back then."

He nodded with satisfaction. "That's more like it."

"But you can't blame me for assuming I was nothing more than a notch in your belt."

"You took away the satisfaction of any notch making by running off like that." He looked at her reflectively. "Maybe I was the notch in yours."

She felt her mouth hang open in disbelief. "Excuse me?"

"Well I'm just making a point here, Mac. You've always known that it happened; I've always wondered if it happened. Lording things over people might just be your forte. You got yourself a piece of the Dickster and had a good laugh."

"You say that as if I took advantage of the situation."

"Let me assure you, you can't rape the willing," Dick told her with a wicked smirk. "And I know what happened. You were in my bed. Why else would you have been there, if not to use it to your advantage?"

"I didn't even know it was your bed at the time, Dick! I lay down that night because I didn't have a ride back to campus and the party was going full-force; I wasn't feeling well—"

"Oh, so now you're telling me that I took advantage?"

"No, I'm just explaining. It never should have happened. I was mortified when I woke up; I knew I would just be a trophy to you, and I had to get out of there."

"First of all, you could never be 'just a trophy to me'." Dick edged further off the couch and nearer to her. "Please believe me. I woke up that morning, searching for you. There was no trace of you; and I just talked myself into believing that I'd dreamed it all up. It wouldn't have been the first time."

She blinked.

"But then this week, when we danced at the 09er, there was something there. I know there was. I saw it on your face. And yesterday, at the tracks. I knew right then it hadn't been a dream. It was all too real, and you kept it from me for eight years!"

"I had no idea that you even cared."

"I've been reliving that dream—that night—for years, Mac."

***BREAK***

Hanging out down in the living room with the others had been fun but now Veronica was ready to talk to Logan without an audience. She silently followed him through the hallway and up the stairs, deep in thought. Finally she was ready to talk to him rationally and ask him all the things that she'd been too scared to ask in a nice way before. She didn't want to demand him for answers any more. Rather, she wanted to have a regular conversation with him about everything she yearned to know. And now she was more certain than ever that Logan was ready to tell it to her.

The two of them had been building back the trust between one another since they'd been stuck together in this house. Actually, it had started out earlier, even from that first moment they'd shared at the beach house when Veronica had come to thank Logan for saving her father's life. She recalled his brown eyes that morning; so soft and understanding. The way he'd looked at her had twisted her gut so familiarly and at the time she'd tried to ignore its implications. But now it just felt like the inevitable, this thing that was happening between them. It had always been happening between them, she admitted now, only time and distance had gotten in the way of it for a while.

It had taken nine years for Veronica to get past denial where Logan was concerned, but denial was no longer an option for her. Whatever may happen from this point on, Veronica knew she was Logan's, whether he would have her or not. Oh, and how she hoped he would have her. Their intense stares, intense arguments, intense everything lately had not only bewildered her but had excited her. The flash of passionate anger in Logan's eyes during their recent arguments reminded her of how things used to be and honestly, it thrilled her in a strange way. In the past, Logan's anger only betrayed his true love for her because in those moments of anger was when he had been extremely worried for her safety. Their arguments over the past few days had been reminiscent of when they'd argued in their past life. There was a small flair of hope within her that this was evidence of his continued love for her.

Love. It was exhilarating and terrifying at the same time to think of it. Not once had Veronica ever uttered those words to Logan, but she wasn't scared of that word anymore. Love. She loved this man. She loved Logan.

But…did he love her back?

She cast a furtive up at him as he walked ahead of her, almost to the top of the stairs now, wondering what he was thinking. Of course he cared for her, Veronica now knew without a doubt. His revelation about Carrie just now in the living room was proof that he cared enough to tell her the truth. And the truth to that revelation was more than that Carrie had been a lesbian. It was that with this revelation Veronica knew now Logan trusted her enough to tell her the truth. But was it just a nod to their past, that he'd extended this olive branch, or could it be something more?

By his slow movements, Veronica could tell just how sore Logan actually was. The fight between him and Lamb had not been an easy brawl by any means. When Veronica had come upon the two of them, Logan had just landed a final blow across Lamb's face and before succumbing to oblivion. She'd rushed to him, kicking the two guns out of reach as she did so, and cradled his head in her arms as she'd taken stock of his injuries.

Thankfully, the injuries had been minimal considering the fight that had taken place. There had mostly just been scrapes across his face and mild evidence of bruises. At the hospital, dark bluish, purple bruising had begun to bloom just under his right eye. And now, climbing the stairs behind him, she'd only just noticed a jagged scrape behind one ear and scratches down the back of his neck.

Logan reached his room and opened the door before turning back to look at her. Without thought, Veronica followed him, passing her room to stand before him, silent, anxious for him to invite her in.

He cocked his head and raised his eyebrows, his brown eyes piercing hers. "Come in?"

***BREAK***

"You sound like a romantic, Dick," Mac told him in exasperation. "No one's fooled by your act."

Dick stood up and started pacing, running his hands through his hair in jerky motions, clearly agitated. "Just because I've always been a fuck-up, Mac, doesn't mean I don't have a heart."

"I know you have a heart, Dick; I just meant that you're not a romantic."

"Isn't that the same thing?"

"No, not in the slightest. You're the kind of guy that likes trucks and surfing; manly things. I don't know—I just don't see you yearning for the mushy things in life. You like sex and things that you can conquer."

"So what if I like all that?" He gave her a bemused look. "Doesn't everyone like sex?"

"Well, usually, yeah, but that's the point. Admitting we had sex was like admitting you got a piece of me."

He shook his head and laughed quietly. "You have no idea."

"No idea about what, Dick?"

He sat on the edge of the coffee table so that they were face to face. Seriously, he said, "You and I." When she waited, he continued, "Can't we have a chance to see? Forget the fuckin' past, Mac. Can't we start right now?"

He looked so earnest that Mac leaned forward and took hold of his hands. "What do you want to start?"

"Something real, Mac. Something for the books."

She smiled and squeezed his fingers. "You don't have to say that to get laid, Dick."

It didn't take long before Dick bobbed his eyebrows excitedly. "So you're saying…?"

"I've had enough talking."

Mac stood, pulling him up with her. She tipped up onto her toes, humored at his height but determined nonetheless. She pressed a kiss on his chin, which was as far as she could reach without him leaning down into her. "I wouldn't have admitted tonight that I'd slept with you if I didn't want a repeat, Dick. Let's see where this takes us."

***BREAK***

Logan didn't have to wait long for Veronica's decision. She gave him a small smile and passed by him, entering his room purposefully, swinging back around and waiting for him to shut the door.

His heart thudded loudly in his ear when his eyes connected with hers. Everything tonight had been leading up to this moment. There was something different in the way she was looking at him now although he would be lying if he didn't admit he had some reservations.

She smiled as she looked around the room and then back at him, looking abnormally nervous. "Tomorrow's gonna be a big day I guess."

He nodded slowly. "Yeah, I guess. Today was long enough as it was. I can't even think about tomorrow."

"Are you going to get in touch with your CO?"

Her voice was small and Logan picked up on it right away. He ducked his head slightly to catch her eye. "Probably. Yeah. I need to make sure they know all this bullshit was just bullshit."

She dropped their eye contact and said softly, "And then you'll be deployed."

He stared at her for a moment before he turned back to the door and locked it. He let his hand linger on the knob before slowly rotating back to look at Veronica, who had swung around to stare out the window. "No. No, Veronica, you heard Bunk at the hospital. They're not going to let me do much right away; I've created too much scandal in the past few days for them to even think about letting me on base, let alone on the carrier. There's going to be red tape and hoops to jump through. But I've got to try. It's…my life."

She folded her arms across herself. "Your life, huh? You must love it then."

He shrugged noncommittally even though she wasn't watching. "Not much else in this world that I do."

She swung around and shot him an appraising look before turning her attention back to the window. "Do you ever wonder 'what if' Logan?"

"'What if' what?"

"What if…what if I had stayed in Neptune, what if…Lilly wouldn't have been killed, what if…"

"That's a lot of 'what ifs', Veronica. I don't like that kind of game; it sucks me into a realm of possibility that isn't mine to live." He gave a small smile and shrugged humorously. "Unless of course, I'm Dick and I find myself a time traveler."

She ignored his quip. "Why were you with Carrie, Logan, if she never loved you?"

The question wasn't demanding; in fact, Veronica's tone was kind; almost sympathetic. Detecting no cynicism in her curiosity, Logan answered, "We loved each other, Veronica. Just in a way that no one understood." At her silence, he continued, "Carrie loved Susan, but I guess you probably already figured that out." The back of her head bobbed in acknowledgement. "I never wanted to take Susan's place; Carrie never wanted that either. There was never an expectation of that kind of love. We just needed each other for different reasons than for why most people are together. But I don't want to talk about Carrie." He paused and then said, "If you want to play the game, Veronica, let's play it. What if you would have stayed?"

Her shoulders tensed. He worried for a moment that maybe he shouldn't be pressuring her, but enough of that. Veronica had been the one to bring it up, after all, so he waited.

After what seemed like an eternity, Veronica turned around. Her eyes were moist, as if she'd been holding back tears, and her cheeks were ruddy. She bit her lip. "If I would have stayed, I don't know…it would all be different."

"Different, how?"

"This," she gestured between them. "Us. It would all be different."

Their eyes met and Logan felt a familiar pull deep within him. This is dangerous, his mind suddenly was screaming. He sucked in a breath and he closed his eyes. "Don't."

"Don't, what?"

"Don't say something you don't completely mean. I thought I could handle it, this…whatever this is. I thought, you know, I could handle whatever you said to me tonight because I want so badly to hear it. I've wanted this conversation for so long, and now that it's here, I just don't know if I really want it. I want to say that you can tell me anything; that you can just, you know, just lie to me, make me believe you in this time and place. Just for right now. But I can't say that. Because..." he opened his eyes and drank in the sight of her, her beautiful wide blue eyes staring up at him and her creamy complexion; everything about her was what he wanted in this moment. "I've missed you so much Veronica; it's ridiculous how much I've missed you. All those candy-coated girls, the imaginary Hollywood-Barbie types that have always flocked around me; the ones that want more than to be seen on my arm, they've never meant anything, not ever. You never used to care about that part of my life and I...loved you for it. With Carrie it was easy because it was our game against the world. But all those other women; they were nothing. They are nothing because it was always you. You've always felt like the real thing to me; you've always been the best thing in my life. No one even compares to what you were to me. And right now, I thought I was ready to hear your lies and your lines; whatever it is you're going to say to me...but I just can't. I don't want to hear anything you have to say if it's just for this moment. If it's not the truth then it's really not worth it to me."

She stepped away from the window to look up at him. "I don't want to lie to you."

"Then let's make no promises, Veronica. I already know what you can do to me with your empty promises."

"But if I told you—"

"I can't hear it right now."

She shook her head. "I don't have empty promises to give you, Logan, just truths. I don't know what the future holds for me, but I do know that I want it to be with you."

"You don't have to tell me that," he groaned, running a hand raggedly through his hair. "This doesn't have to be a forever kind of thing."

She smiled and stepped even closer to him. She surprised him when she raised a hand up to cup his face gently. "Logan, if anything, this week has taught me that some things are inevitable, and for me, what's inevitable is you. Life has thrown me curve ball after curve ball, and it's come full circle back to Neptune and back to you. You just said that I've always felt like the real thing to you; well, you're the real thing to me. I want you." She said the last emphatically and he stared at her. "I love you. I can't imagine what will happen if I walked away again. I refuse to be the one to do that. It's not in me anymore. Damn the consequences and whether it's the right thing to do. To me, this is a forever kind of thing." With that, Veronica tipped up and pressed her mouth to his.

The touch of her lips on his ignited him. He wrapped his uninjured arm around her back and drew her up into him, moving to better kiss her. He delved into the sweetness of her mouth, dipping and tugging and then pulling at her tongue, reveling in the soft mewling that emitted from her throat. His fingers tugged at the tips of her blonde hair, threading through the locks lightly. He growled with satisfaction when she wrapped her arms around him and her fingers traced over his ears and jawbone. Her thumbs lightly skimmed the bruises on his cheeks as she broke their kiss and brought her lips up to trace a line of kisses along his bruised cheekbone. Logan kneaded his fingers up the back of her neck, rhythmically pressing the pads of his fingers into her hairline. She arched against him and threw back her head, giving Logan the opportunity to drop his attention to the smooth creaminess of her throat. He dipped his head and planted a kiss at the base of her throat, loving the sound of her jagged breathing in his ear. She tightened her hold on him, her fingers threading through his hair, pulling at the ends as she drew him closer to her.

Their bodies moved together, both impatient for more. He edged them over to the foot of his bed, breaking their contact to sit down on the edge of the mattress. He looked up at her, and she straddled him, bending her knees so that she was kneeling over him, and he continued kissing her, running his hands down her rib cage, his fingers lightly brushing the tips of her breasts. Logan poured his emotion out in his touch, caressing Veronica with his mouth and fingertips, loving the way her body responded to him. He turned their bodies so that he could lay her down beneath him. For a moment, he looked down at her and then rolled off of her to lie beside her, on his side. Together they stilled, their breathing heavy, eyes locked on one another.

Veronica feathered a touch along his jawline and then tipped her mouth up to his and lightly kissed him. When she pulled away, he reached up to weave his fingers through hers. "You didn't have to say that, Veronica. You don't have to tell me anything."

"I wanted to," she insisted quietly, "I need to. You've done so much for me. You saved Dad's life—"

"I've already told you, anyone would have done that."

"Just let me say this." Veronica swallowed, looking deeply into his eyes. "You kept me safe. You went into the wolf's den today, voluntarily, and readily went with Manny to that warehouse. Why would you do that?"

He smiled softly and studied her. "You know why."

"I think I know why."

"You know why," he repeated, and then placed a kiss on her forehead. "Everything I've ever done has been for you."

**BREAK**

Her heart swelled at Logan's words. Veronica ran a hand along the length of his torso and rested it on his hip, suddenly feeling shy. Cautiously, she traced the hem of Logan's shirt, carefully dipping up and under the edge of it to touch the smooth skin of his belly.

He shuddered at her touch and fell back against the pillow. Encouraged, Veronica rose up on an elbow and continued to touch him, before moving to straddle him. Careful to not jar his body unnecessarily, she slowly unbuttoned Logan's shirt and splayed it open and then bent down to place a kiss just below the bandage at his shoulder, right above his heart.

She felt his hands on her hips and Veronica ground down against him when she felt the hardness of him beneath her. Sitting up, Veronica shed her shirt and threw it off of her, quickly bending back down to capture his mouth again, feeling urgent. Logan's fingers skimmed up her back to her bra to unclasp it and then guided the straps down her shoulders as their kisses became more intense. Veronica lifted up long enough to throw the bra over to where her shirt now lay on the floor.

She then helped Logan out of his shirt, laughing as she did so because as she moved, Logan kept attempting to capture either of her nipples his in his mouth, unsuccessfully, until the shirt joined the growing pile of clothes on the floor. He grabbed her wrists, making her fall into him, which he then took advantage of by planting a hot kiss to her neck. Enjoying his attention, Veronica stilled and let him work his magic until she could handle it no longer. Together they worked the rest of their clothing off, carefully, mindful of Logan's injuries. Soon they were naked and lying together on the bed, each of them rediscovering the other. When Veronica found the wide jagged scar on Logan's thigh, she first fingered it gently and then kissed the length of it before rising back up to kiss his mouth tenderly, trying to convey the remorse and horror of seeing his injury.

They took their time, careful to not agitate Logan's injuries. Veronica took the lead in their lovemaking, aware of her movements to not cause Logan any pain. Amid very small protests, Veronica was able to keep Logan on his back by straddling him. She kissed her way slowly down his body, making her way down lower and lower , finally taking the length of him into her mouth. Bolstered by the hiss of her name on his lips, she licked him delicately, seductively teasing him with her tongue and also with her bare breasts, which were lightly rubbing his bare thighs. She loved looking up at him and seeing the way his pupils dilated with pure lust. She loved how he wrapped her hair in fistfuls, his hips straining against her as she milked him and moved against him. Her body was on fire just seeing and feeling his body responding to her; she loved the heady power it gave her.

When he seemed about to burst, Veronica trailed her tongue up his torso, rubbing each of his nipples with her fingers, and he bucked underneath her. Anticipating her intention, Logan reached over and grabbed his wallet that sat on the nightstand to pull out a condom. Veronica took the wrapper from him, ripping the package hurriedly and quickly sheathing him tightly, and then Logan bucked up into her once again. She grinned up at him, moving her hips just so, and easily he fit into her.

Collectively they gasped their pleasure. They each stilled their movements to stare at each other. Memories flashed through Veronica's mind; of all the times she had longed for this moment and every time she'd denied herself the need of him. She felt the burn of tears threatening to emerge and she fought them by beginning the up and down motions of love, reveling in the feel of his hands on her breasts and the murmur of her name on his lips. His arms then wrapped around her, his hands on her shoulders, pushing himself deeper into her, and she began a rocking motion that made both of their cries to build to an exotic hum of anticipation. She felt his release just as his eyes widened and she felt herself crashing around him. Arching her back, Veronica rode the wave of pleasure as Logan's hands anchored her hips against him; his thumbs dipping down to touch her center as the orgasm ebbed but then began the sweet build up once again.

"Come, baby," Logan coaxed, and Veronica obliged, crying out once again before sinking against him, spent. She breathed in heavily as she listened to the rapid thumping of his heartbeat beneath her ear. Her content smile grew when Logan's hands strummed her back lightly and cupped her ass and squeezed it territorially.

She flipped her hair out of her face and rested her head once again on his chest. "I didn't hurt you, did I?"

He squeezed her again. "You couldn't hurt me."

She propped her chin on her hands and looked at him. "Your smile makes me believe you."

"Sex is oddly therapeutic."

She laughed. "Says all men."

"It can right wrongs and make you forget your troubles."

"If only for a moment in time."

"Oh, I can make it more than a moment."

"I believe you."

**BREAK***

They spent the night together in Logan's room, wrapped in each others arms. They spoke of their years apart some, but mostly they slept, because Veronica insisted that Logan needed the rest. By the time the morning dawned, however, Logan's kisses had awoken her and they'd made love once again.

When they finally made their way to the kitchen for breakfast, they found Mac and Dick together at the table, chatting and holding hands. Veronica gave her friend a curious look, but Mac merely shrugged and scooted closer to Dick.

When Bunk came in from outside, he informed them that Cliff had called, saying that Lamb had broken his silence and confessed to everything. Morrison was being hauled in for questioning, and the warehouse that Manny had taken Logan to was being thoroughly inspected. Deputy Norris Clayton was heading an internal investigation with in the Balboa County Sheriff's Office overseen by the San Diego Police Department.

"Logan, I need to talk to you, son."

Bunk's voice was somber, and Veronica knew immediately something was up. "Is it something with my dad?"

Bunk's quick shake of his head reassured her. "No, nothing about Keith. A word, Logan?"

She glanced over to Logan, who noticed the serious tone of his older friend as well, and watched as he slid out from the table and stood to follow Bunk to the hall.

When Veronica made to follow, Logan held up a hand to stop her. Unsure, she fell back into her chair and stared after them, worried.

***BREAK***

Bunk led Logan through the hallway and into the office that Veronica had taken over earlier that week. Once they were both inside, Bunk shut the door and then slowly turned to look at him.

"You're scaring me, Bunk, what's going on?"

Bunk rubbed his chin roughly with a hand. "Son, I don't have real good news to tell ya."

Logan's heart started thumping loudly in his ear. "Just tell me."

"I talked to Barrows this morning."

Barrows was Logan's C.O. He suddenly had a very bad feeling. "Yeah?"

"He's been following this mess, Echo, and it's not good."

"Well, we know it's not good. What's new?"

Bunk started pacing the small length of the room, his hands behind his back. "I think you need to start thinking of a back up plan."

"Back up plan? What does that mean?"

"I mean, I think you ought to start thinking about what you want out of a future that doesn't hold the Navy in it."

He felt hollow. "The Navy is my life, Bunk."

"No, actually, it isn't," the older man argued, stopping directly in front of Logan. He pointed at the door. "Your life is just out there, eating breakfast. Tell me it isn't true."

Logan was silent.

Bunk resumed his pacing. "I've been giving this a fair amount of thought."

"What a lot of thought?"

"What you ought to do. Now, I know you're the one deciding all this, and that I have nothing to do with any of it. You and Veronica have to decide what's right for you."

"Me and Veronica?"

"Tell me it isn't true," Bunk countered again but didn't wait for an answer this time. "Anyway, I want to run something by you. Something crazy, maybe, but…you're like the son I never had, Echo, and I want to extend to you what I can to make sure you're in a place in life where you're living to your potential." When Logan said nothing, he continued, "I've been wanting to open a permanent office down here for some time now. And these few days have given me a nice glimpse into the California way of life; I think I can easily expand to Neptune. If you'd want it."

Logan looked at him curiously. "Want what?"

"To be partners. With me. Run the office down here—be our pilot, be the man. The California Man."

Logan was speechless. Years earlier, Bunk had offered him a place in his firm, but it had involved moving to Seattle and starting a completely different life. This was big, bigger than anything he'd been offered before.

"Now, it will take some time to get up off the ground, you know. But we have a few clients down here already, so that will be a start. And you're going to have to take some time to cut ties with the Navy, but we can be patient with that."

"Cut ties…" Logan echoed dully. "Is it over? Am I through then?"

"Now, not yet. But I think you might be happier if you're the one to end this, Echo. Before they have a chance to come up with a nasty way to get rid of you. Barrows said as much."

***BREAK***

Veronica watched with concern when Logan finally returned to the kitchen. He sank down beside her and pulled a box of cereal open and began pouring it into an empty bowl right.

"Is everything all right?" she asked under her breath.

He shrugged as he continued prepping his breakfast, pouring the milk and then grabbing a nearby spoon. "Just some work stuff."

"Work stuff?" she said skeptically. "Like classified?"

"Exactly," Logan said vaguely. "Not for civilians."

Veronica folded her arms, feeling exceptionally disappointed. Hadn't they just spent the entire night together, in each others arms, regaining trust? There was a small part of her that expected more from him, but the rest of her tried to rationalize that whatever may have happened between them, the fact was that they both had their own lives and their own secrets to keep.

She played off her misgivings by passing him a plate of toast without comment, but he seemed to read her thoughts, because when their fingertips brushed when he took the offered bread, he winked at her. "Relax. I'll tell you later. Right now just isn't a good time." And he looked pointedly at Mac and Dick, who were engrossed in each other. With a smirk, he commented to them, "You two are awfully chipper this morning."

"A good night can do that to a person," Dick agreed with a larger smirk. "And might I say you are looking just as high-spirited as me."

Logan put his arm around Veronica. "You know, you say that, but I think I trump you in that department. Things couldn't be better."

AN: Thank you for reading. Epilogue to follow. I really appreciate your continued interest.