A/N – The characters you know and love aren't mine – but you knew that.

Chapter 44

With one hand he fumbled with the key card, and kicked open the door.

Logan carried Veronica across the threshold. The Lodge's turndown service had come and gone during the reception, and the lights were off in the room. It was dimly illuminated by the flickering of many flameless candles. Bouquets of lilies and roses had been placed on the tabletops and a trail of rose petals led into the bedroom.

Still silent, Logan carried Veronica through the French doors into the bedroom. The rose petals led to the bed and decorated its surface; more flameless candles provided a muted glow. Soft music from the sound system played, some nameless jazz mixed with the sound of the ocean. The massage table and room service tray had been removed, a new tray with a selection of chocolates was on a side table. A bottle was chilling in an ice bucket, the wrapper indicated it was non-alcoholic sparkling cider.

Logan gently set Veronica on her feet at the edge of the bed. His eyes locked on hers, and saw her exhaustion, her turmoil, her pain. His joy at being both reunited with Veronica, and finally married to her was marred. I caused this, if I hadn't disrupted her life, if I hadn't pressed for this crazy wedding, if my name didn't make it news…He closed his eyes, and leaned forward, pressing his forehead to hers. She can annul this, she can be free again, I won't hold her if she wants to run…He was trembling now, he couldn't open his eyes and look at her. I can't stand to see the truth. "Veronica," he began, his voice husky with emotion.

He felt her finger press against his lips. "Logan," her voice was soft, "no more talking, not tonight. Just love me." Veronica's arms wrapped around his waist, her head pressed into her chest. Logan could feel her trembling making a discordant harmony with his own. He took a deep breath and tried to be still. She still smelled like Veronica, vanilla, marshmallows, promises…Another breath, and he let his arms circle her, pulling her tighter to his chest…She said love me. He could feel her head shift, pulling away from his chest. He imagined it was tilted upward towards him, but he kept his eyes closed. He was hopeful again, but how much can I put her through and expect her to still want to stay? "Logan," her voice was no more than a whisper now, "please, open your eyes." He obeyed her command and found himself captured in that cerulean gaze. "Just love me," she repeated.

Logan's lips crashed down on Veronica's, gentle but insistent, as if he could banish all his fears with a kiss. His tongue darted out, daring hers to meet it. He felt warmth start to build in him. They pulled apart, just enough to look into each other's eyes again. He still saw her pain, but recognized it was not with him, not with this. He smiled then and kissed her again, a chaste kiss this time, his own unspoken promise that he would always try to ease that pain.

Silently, she shifted a half step back and lifted her arms above her head. Logan ran his hands along her waist, and where he expected to feel smooth skin, he encountered stiff silk. He gently took the cashmere hem in his fingers and pulled the sweater over her head. Veronica stood in front of him, in blue jeans and boots, her gun holster slung across her hips, and twirled. Her top half was encased in a tightly laced corset, white silk, and pink satin ribbons. Her perfect breasts were pushed high and together, upon a platter for his gaze. Her already tiny waist drawn to wasp like proportions. She was all innocence and sex. His breath caught and his cock grew hard. His fingers traced the path of the ribbon, and danced across the exposed skin of her breasts. He knew her trembles now were not from the stress of the evening and he smirked.

He kissed the side of her neck, and was rewarded by her sweet moan. He moved to her collarbone and then the cleft between her breasts. She gasped and swayed. Logan pushed her gently back onto the bed and she sat with a plop. He knelt at her feet and unlaced the boots, pulling first one then the other off. His hands encountered silk stockings, and he involuntarily moaned again. Gently rubbing Veronica's feet he revealed, and Logan in the silk smoothness. Moving upwards, he unbuttoned her jeans and tugged them down, Veronica lifted her hips to ease the progress. Standing, he drank in the sight, framed by rose petals, Veronica laid in her wedding lingerie, and looked both wanton and pure. Lust was darkening her eyes, and Logan felt the drama of the evening replaced by his own lust for his wife. Wife.

He kept eye contact with her as he stripped out of his uniform. Soon he was down to a pair of white boxers, his arousal evident. Veronica reached out to him, and he lowered himself to the bed with her. Their kisses were tender and loving, a slow burn building in both of them. Logan rolled Veronica to her back and trailed his kisses across her exposed skin. He lavished her exposed rear with attention, before unsnapping the garters, and gently rolling down her stockings. He kissed the back of her thighs, her knees, the soles of her feet, and then worked his way back up. He tugged the garter belt and thong down. Now Veronica's lower half was exposed to his view, while he top was still encased in the corset. Logan pushed between her legs, and rained his kisses on her core, not stopping until her trembling had crescendod. She couldn't see it, but his smile was self-satisfied and smug. He straddled her legs and looked at the corset lacings in consternation. His fingers struggled to find purchase on the first knot.

Veronica had regained some control of her limbs. Her arm was flopping towards the bedside table, fingers feebly grasping. Logan's eyes followed her movements and smiled in delight at the knife within easy reach. He flipped open the blade and delicately ran its sharp edge down the middle of the lacing. The garment fell to her sides, as Veronica took her first deep breath in hours. Logan closed the knife and placed it back on the side table. A few gentle tugs and the corset was toss across the room. Veronica rolled over and lay beneath him in bare glory. Logan took it all in, the only thing she was wearing was diamonds, Lilly's necklace, Alicia's bracelet, and his ring. She was beautiful. They spent the rest of the night just loving each other, until they fell into a deep sleep, entwined in each other's arms.

~~The next morning~~

Veronica was up before Logan. She took a quick shower, and had ordered room service. He woke up when he heard the door open, and her soft voice exchanging pleasantries in the front room. He slipped into his boxers, and waited until things were quiet again before joining her. Veronica smiled, and her whole face lit up. She handed him a cup of coffee, "Good morning husband!"

He bent to give her a quick kiss. "Good morning wife!" She was removing silver covers from plates and revealing waffles, bacon and eggs, and piles of toast. Without waiting for him to even sit, she was cutting into the waffles, and starting to eat. She moaned her pleasure in the rich maple syrup.

Then her eyes reviewed him again, "Husband, not that I don't love this vision first thing in the morning, but you might want to clean up and get dressed." Logan raised his eye brow quizzically. "My dad, Cliff, and Mac are headed up here any time now. I thought we should have a pow-wow before the brunch, and this afternoon's meetings."

Logan nodded slowly, and then let out a small sigh. Veronica smirked. "Will it help if I promise to take a shower with you tomorrow?"

Logan grinned, "A promise from you makes it all better." He stole another kiss, while making a grab for the bacon. She laughed and smacked at his hand. He dodged away, triumphantly munching his bacon.

When he emerged from the shower, he heard voices coming from the front room, and surprisingly laughter. Walking in, he took in the assembled crew, they looked relaxed, confident in their ability to weather whatever would come next, as a team. Logan smiled, it is true, in another world, I could imagine them all working together, a cohesive front, trying to rid Neptune of its vice. Cliff's smooth voice sounded a bit worse for wear after last night, but he was chuckling, "Are you sure we aren't in Neptune? Stalkings, shootings, the potential for criminal charges? We really need to talk about getting you on retainer now that you are married to Echolls."

Logan cleared his throat, "That's Mars."

Veronica smiled, and stood, wrapping her arms around him. "Damn straight it is."

A/N – So that's it. What started out in my head as a light sex romp and impromptu wedding somehow spiraled into 65,000+ word yarn. I hope y'all enjoyed it, typos and all. If you see updates on this in the future, it will just be me cleaning up those typos. If you want more of this version of the VM alta-verse – well you are in luck, I have ideas bubbling away, so I think I will keep plugging away on a squeal. Unfortunately, no vacation time in the near future, so the updates will not be as crazy fast as when I first started this story. Finally, I wanted to thank everyone who has read this story, PM'd me, or commented. You have all been so kind, and I have appreciated all your support!