~VM~VM~VM~VM~VM~VM~

She turned up at the Echolls' Estate at ten AM with her swimsuit already on under her tee shirt and shorts. Logan was in the pool swimming laps and Veronica dumped her bag by the lounge beds he'd set up under a gazebo for them and stripped off.

"Holy shit," Logan sputtered barely keeping afloat when he looked up and saw Veronica standing on the edge of the pool. She was wearing that barely there, tiny, sexy red string bikini he'd seen her in on the ship the week before, and he was suddenly glad he'd dismissed most of the staff for the day, especially their new bitchy housekeeper, Ms Alvarez.

Veronica jumped into the water, sending a wave splashing over Logan, and surfaced with a laugh. "Yo, dude! How's it hangin'?"

Blinking water from his eyes, Logan grinned and swam towards her, "to the left, if you must know." His hands automatically circled her bare waist under the warm crystal blue water and brought her flush to him.

"Hmm, is that so?" she raised an eyebrow wrapping her arms around his shoulders, fingers playing with the neck of the sodden tee shirt he was wearing. She couldn't reach the floor of the pool and let her legs idly intertwine with his.

Logan nodded and pressed his mouth to hers, tilting his head so he could deepen the welcoming kiss just as they both disappeared under the water. They didn't stop kissing, tangling their tongues together and trying to taste each other beyond the chlorine, until oxygen became a serious issue and they broke the surface with a gulp of air and a splash.

They played for a little while longer, mixing childish antics with sensual touches and kisses, and then climbed out to dry off in the gazebo.

"Fuck, you look so hot in this," Logan breathed coming up behind Veronica and sliding his hands down her wet body. She dropped her towel, stilled his hands quickly and darted her eyes towards the house.

"Logan, stop, someone might see!"

Releasing the ties that held the drapes of the gazebo back, Logan allowed the fabric to fall free, blocking out the whole world with generous pleats of cream silk and chiffon and giving them the privacy they wanted, before returning to his spot behind Veronica and pressing up against her.

"Better?"

"Um..." Veronica bit her lip watching the thick folds billowing gently in the wind.

"Hey, there's no one else here but us... and the Bobbsy Twins. I gave the rest of the staff the day off. I didn't want us disturbed," he reassured her in a soft, low whisper that sent a small thrill down her spine.

"B-Bobbsey Twins?" Veronica queried as Logan kissed the droplets of pool water from the skin of her neck.

"Nick and Jamal," he muttered pressing his lips to her pulse point and suckling slightly, tasting faint traces of her fragrant sun lotion against his tongue. She shivered and moaned softly.

"The security?"

Nick and Jamal worked for Aaron as the Echolls' out of sight, out of mind home protection detail. Both were absolute polar opposites in looks and stature, that Logan thought it was hilariously ironic to give them the nickname.

"Yeah, but don't worry, they're busy keeping the paparazzi off the property. They won't come back here. We're absolutely," kiss, "totally," nibble, "alone..."

Believing him and unable to wait any longer, she turned in his arms and pulled his mouth down to hers, devouring him right there under the gazebo, standing by the shimmering water of the pool. Veronica could feel that Logan was indeed dressed to the left and very subtly rubbed up against him.

Logan gasped and quickly moved back a fraction. "Veronica..."

"Sorry, it's just that I love that I can do this to you," she confessed very quietly, feeling a flush heating up her chest, warming her chilled skin. Logan pulled back and looked at her, an expression of... something almost like wonder in his deep brown eyes.

"I love that you do this to me, too," he smiled softly gently tucking a strand of wet hair behind her ear. "And to tell you a secret," he whispered close to the same ear, "I can't wait to make you fly."

His nipples were hard under his wet tee shirt and Veronica stroked her hands down his chest and deliberately thumbed the rigid nubs. Logan sucked in a breath and she suddenly felt emboldened to do more, and very slowly lowered her head.

"Holy shit," Logan breathed harshly when Veronica's hot mouth covered his left nipple. He could feel the heat right down to his toes, even through the cold, wet material of his tee shirt, and gently gripped her head, holding her there.

Veronica used her tongue to caress the hard peak, and then sucked it into her mouth through the cotton, moaning softly when she felt Logan's warm fingers thread through her hair. She moved her hands up his hips and under his shirt, curling around his back...

"No, Veronica... d-don't," Logan stuttered softly gently pulling her hands away. She looked up at him and saw shame overshadowing the lust and pleasure in his eyes.

"Why?" When he didn't answer, she gently circled his wrist with her fingers and pulled his arm up to her lips, tenderly kissing the cigar burn before telling him carefully, "Logan, this changes nothing between us. What your dad did to you doesn't change the way I feel about you. Do you understand?"

Logan just swallowed and licked his lips apprehensively. Veronica placed her hand over his heart, and held his to her own chest, just above her left breast.

"What we have together, he can't touch, Logan. No one can," she whispered. "It's what's in here that I love, and what's in here that he can never break."

Sucking in a soft breath, Logan wondered if Veronica knew exactly what she'd just told him. He could feel her heart beating under his hand and knew right then he was in love with this beautiful soul.

"Trust me, Logan. Trust me to see all of you..." she murmured gathering his shirt in her fingers, adding with a small smile, "warts an' all... please."

He knew what she was asking, and hesitated. Seeing his damaged body was the last thing Logan wanted Veronica to ever see, if anything just to protect her from the harsh reality of what his father could do to him, but he knew he trusted her and wanted more than anything for her to trust him.

"Warts an' all?" he repeated, his lips quirking slightly and she nodded. He lifted his shirt off and dropped it on the floor with a wet slap, waiting for the same look of horror that Keith Mars had the night before when he took the photographs.

But it never came.

Veronica gently ran her fingers over the healing bruise on his ribs and looked up at him. "You never have to hide from me, Logan," she smiled carefully circling her arms around him until he could feel her fingers trace over the rough ridges of the belt lashes.

Logan stood stock still when Veronica slowly moved behind him, holding his breath as she tenderly examined his back with featherlike touches, so gentle that he felt tears clog his throat. When her warm lips kissed each and every angry mark, his breath whooshed out of him and he spun around, gathering her up in a startled hug, and desperately found her mouth with his own.

"God, Veronica," he gasped kissing her fiercely. She wasn't disgusted by him, she wasn't revolted... instead she accepted him, problems, scars and all, and right there, on a lazy Sunday morning under the warm Californian sun, standing with the girl he loved in the back yard of his house by the pool, Logan thought that maybe life wasn't all fucked up.

Kissing back just as eagerly, Veronica let Logan lower them both onto the soft, plush cushions of a sun lounger. He settled next to her, bodies tight up against each other, and leaned over never breaking their kiss. Veronica wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him closer, loving the sensation of their bare skin touching. She could feel the heat from him and bathed in it, curling one leg around his and tugging him partially on top of her.

"You're so beautiful," Logan murmured into her mouth, one hand reverently stroking down her body and resting on her hip. Veronica could see his tan skin flushed a delicious dusky pink with desire, his dark eyes devouring her like she was the only thing that existed, but she knew he was holding back.

"So are you," she smiled up at him, deciding that second base at the very least was definitely the way to go, for sanity's sake – especially hers! Logan raised an eyebrow when her small hand gripped his wet shorts and yanked his hips against hers, and a wide grin graced her face when she felt his hard on press into her belly.

"You, Veronica Mars, definitely are a minx," he smirked lowering his mouth to hers again, ready to do whatever she wanted.

She squeaked a little when Logan's hand gently cupped her breast, but then deepened their kiss with a throaty moan to tell him she liked it. When his thumb ventured under the damp material and a nail flicked over her hardened nipple, she nearly toppled him off the lounger as her body jolted with pleasure.

Logan chuckled softly and did it again, dragging his lips down her neck as his fingers slowly pulled off her bikini top, until his mouth finally covered the tingling peaked flesh, gently sucking and twisting his tongue around her. Veronica arched into the delicious sensation, fingers grasping Logan's hair as she panted and cried out. Heat rushed through her body, from the tips of her fingers and toes to settle right in her core, and she could feel herself pulsing with need. Logan's hot, relentless mouth then moved to her other breast and Veronica shuddered so hard that she grabbed the pillow behind her head and hung on tight.

"Oh God... Oh God, Logan..."

Despite the fact that Logan had promised her that he wanted to wait before going all the way, he was still just a teenage boy with an insatiable appetite for sex. And with Veronica writhing and panting underneath him, wanting him... it was all he could do not to just tear off her dainty little bikini and slide right on home.

But a home run wasn't going to happen today. Logan may be young and eager, but he was also serious about wanting to wait until she was absolutely ready, before they took that last step together.

In the meantime, there was second base... and third, if he was lucky enough.

He smiled around the nipple in his mouth, pulling away and blowing warm moist air across the hard peak. "Do you trust me?" he asked softly encouraged by her reaction so far. Veronica blinked open her eyes and looked at him. Her face was flushed and sweaty, mouth open and panting, eyes dark with desire and Logan nearly came in his shorts at the intensity of her gaze.

"Huh?"

"Veronica, do you trust me?"

"Yeah... yes, I do," she swallowed and licked her lips.

"You can tell me if you want me to stop, okay?" he murmured moving his hand oh-so-slowly down her body to her bikini briefs, and watching her carefully for any signs of distress. Veronica's breath hitched softly, and she licked her lips again as Logan leaned in as if to kiss her. She opened her mouth for him, but he leaned away at the last second with a playful smile. Veronica chuckled breathily and followed him when he tilted his head and swept in for a kiss once more, this time swallowing her surprised cry when his fingers finally reached their goal and stroked gently over her sex.

He could feel her wet heat seeping through the material against his fingers, and a wave of lust rolled through him, settling in his already aching balls. Logan kissed her deeper, loving how her small body bucked up into his hand, and pressed his fingers a little harder.

"Logan!" Veronica gasped yanking her lips from his. Her heart pounded in her chest, her lungs nearly seizing at how incredible she was feeling, and tentatively reached down with her own hand to cover Logan's, shyly urging him to push harder.

Taking the hint, Logan followed her lead and carefully hooked his fingers, applying a little more pressure at the same time as he rubbed his thumb to her clit. She suddenly jerked, startled, and stared at him wide eyed.

"You want me to stop?" he asked stilling his hand, worried he'd gone too far, but Veronica yanked his head down and kissed him, shamelessly moaning into his mouth.

"No... God, don't you dare stop," she breathed haltingly, powerlessly surrendering to her body's desires. "Please, Logan... I need... I need..."

Logan buried his face into her neck for a second to try and calm himself, because she was driving him insane with his own need. Her hips persistently pressed up against his hand, seeking friction, and he shakily breathed out.

"Fuck," he gasped finding her lips again, his own body moving rhythmically in time with hers. Veronica cried out when he resumed stroking, the sound quickly swallowed up in the heat of his kiss.

Moments later, she arched her back and gulped in air. "Logan! Please..."

He could feel her body vibrating under his and sensed her need. Her tight nipples, trembling thighs, all over body flush... He knew she was close, because he was feeling it too.

"Veronica," he moaned, face mere inches from hers. He carefully skimmed his fingertips along the edge of her bikini briefs, intention very clear. "Veronica, can I?"

She looked up at Logan and saw nothing but warmth and love and adoration in his lust filled dark eyes, and found herself nodding before she could even think, and lifted her hips for him as he pulled the red scrap of material down her thighs and finally off her altogether, baring all of her for him to see.

Veronica, strangely enough, felt comfortable naked in front of Logan. After that night all those months ago, and then after that incident on the ship the previous weekend, she had wondered if she'd ever feel safe so vulnerable again. But she did. Under Logan's heated gaze, Veronica felt wanted and sexy and wonderful.

"Jesus, baby, you're... fuck, you're beautiful," Logan sighed breathlessly, his eyes raking in every inch of her, from her dusky pink, perfect nipples, over her glowing sun kissed skin, to the neatly trimmed soft dark blonde curls. She looked radiant and he stroked a hand lightly down her stomach, stopping over the thatch of pubic hair, and he shuddered out a shaky breath when Veronica slowly opened her legs and her naked heat met his palm.

Leaning back down, Logan looked deep into her eyes, maybe seeking permission, she didn't know, but he had it whatever... And then he kissed her again, slowly, deeply, opening wide and reaching his tongue around hers until she moaned and her eyes fluttered closed again.

And then she felt his hand press against her, fingers gently parting her swollen folds and stroking. Her thighs closed instinctively at the feeling, the same and yet so different than before, trying to hold onto him as his thumb rubbed tentatively over her clit.

"Oh!" she gasped throwing her head back, her mouth falling open in surprise. Logan smiled, awed by her. He loved that she was so responsive to his touch, loved how wet she was against his fingers...

He lowered his head and kissed a fiery trail down her body, paying special attention to each flushed breast, all the while still stroking her with his fingers. He could feel her shaking, and her body heaved with her shuddering gasps. Logan dipped his tongue into her belly button and she cried out, her legs falling open again, hands twisting in his hair.

She didn't know what she wanted, and yet she did. Waves of pleasure slammed through her, heat deep inside her almost cresting then ebbing away again. His touch was driving her crazy... She wanted, no, needed him to... to...

"Oh fuck..." she yelped when his mouth finally, finally pressed there. Veronica's eyes abruptly flew open as her brain quickly caught up with what Logan was doing, and, suddenly mortified, her thighs once again slammed closed, right on his head.

"Hey, easy, baby," Logan said gently prising her legs open. He looked up to see her shamefully embarrassed expression. "Veronica, you okay?"

"You... ah, you don't..." she mumbled awkwardly glancing towards the gazebo drapes, but still highly aroused and struggling to stop her hips from moving with need. Logan just smiled.

"Do you trust me?"

Her cheeks were flaming red, but she didn't hesitate, "Yes, but-"

"Then let me do this for you," he whispered gently kissing her trembling inner thigh. "I want to do this for you. Veronica, you can tell me no, and I'll stop, you know I will, but... please, let me do this for you..."

Veronica swallowed hard, licking her dry lips, still feeling the light headed sensation of arousal coursing through her veins, and nodded. He surged up her body and kissed her, and she found the taste of herself on his lips so erotic that her eyes rolled back and she moaned long and hard.

"Trust me, baby, I'm gonna make you fly," Logan whispered to her before shimmying back down her body and between her legs again, and the first touch of his slick tongue against her clit made Veronica instantly forget any inhibition she may have harboured about oral sex.

God, Veronica tasted so fucking good, Logan thought as he lapped up her wetness and licked all the way up her swollen, flushed flesh. His fingers parted her folds and he pressed his lips around her clit and sucked, holding onto her hips with one hand to steady her as she bucked and rode the sensations slamming through her. He gently slid one finger inside of her, closing his eyes at the feel of her hot, silky walls pulsing around him, and carefully started thrusting.

"Oh God, Oh God, Oh God..." Veronica gasped, hands now at her breasts, fingers twisting and pulling at her own hard nipples. The feel of Logan's finger inside her was amazing, and her hips moved in time with his gentle thrusts, and she could feel something building deep down, something on the verge of erupting.

Licking his way to her clit again, Logan pressed in a second finger alongside the first and hooked them, gently massaging her G-spot. Veronica jerked and cried out, her belly tightening as she curled up slightly, and Logan did it again at the same time as he firmly sucked on the sensitive bundle of nerves, feeling her orgasm finally burst from her with a wordless scream and a gush of spasms around his fingers.

Her first ever orgasm literally blindsided Veronica. She could feel herself cresting, feel that something deep inside of her building and building, until it suddenly exploded in waves of pleasure and bliss that she never wanted to end. Logan's mouth on her felt fucking amazing, and before long, she felt herself climbing to that delicious precipice once more.

"Oh Lo-Logan... Oh God, yes... yes..."

"God, I love you," Logan breathed as he pressed his face against her pulsing, wet flesh. He could feel her contracting around his fingers again and waited for her second orgasm to peak before pulling his hand away and replacing it with his tongue, reaching deep, tasting, drinking her down as she throbbed around him.

She yelped and cried out, her body arching up on the lounger, but held on as Logan tongued and sucked on her, making her fly.

"One more, baby... for me, one more," Logan begged slipping his fingers back inside her and his mouth up to her swollen clit again. Veronica mewled, but couldn't help the way her body responded to him, and felt herself being nearly torn apart as her third orgasm hit her hard.

Logan knew this was a big one when Veronica rode his hand frantically over and over, crying and nearly sobbing out her pleasure as he sucked her relentlessly, easing down slowly when she finally lay exhausted and thoroughly sated under him. He gently removed his fingers and sucked them clean of her fluids, the warm, heady sweetness coating his tongue, before moving up to lay beside her.

Veronica closed her eyes, but she could sense in her post coital, euphoric haze, that Logan had laid next to her and smiled, turning her face to his. She felt absolutely, fucking wonderful. Tired and completely spent, but so, so good. Every part of her body tingled with pleasure.

"Hi," she breathed a little hoarsely opening her eyes to see Logan looking fondly down at her.

"Hi."

"So, ah... woof..."

Logan grinned and leaned in to kiss her, and she moaned at the taste in his mouth, musky and sweet. She sighed happily and fell back, chuckling when Logan followed with a peck on the tip of her nose.

"You okay?" he murmured softly, a little anxious tone lacing his voice. He reached behind him and pulled a dry towel from the adjacent lounger, gently draping it over her. "I mean, with the..."

Placing a finger to his lips, Veronica smiled at him. "Shhh, yeah," she hushed replacing her finger with her lips in a soft kiss. "I'm great. I'm okay, Logan. Thank you... but..." Logan jumped when her fingers then brushed against his hard dick. "Let me take care of you, too."

"Ahhh," Logan sucked in a breath and gently stilled her hand. God, he was so fucking close already. "Veronica..."

"Please," she whispered slipping inside his damp shorts. He moaned low in his throat and closed his eyes pressing his face into her neck when her small, sure fingers wrapped around him. Veronica turned and whispered heatedly into his ear, "Show me how..."

She'd never had a man's penis in her hand before, (her relationship with Duncan had never really ventured beyond sweet kisses and innocent touches), and Veronica found she really liked the power it gave her, and tentatively swiped the pad of her thumb over Logan's glans, loving the silky feel of it and his full body shudder in response.

"Jesus, Veronica," he gasped moving a shaky hand to hers to show her how he liked to be touched. Veronica learned quickly and within minutes, Logan was panting into her mouth, thrusting helplessly into her hand.

"I love you too," she whispered repeating what she'd heard him tell her earlier, meaning it, and Logan snapped his eyes to hers, reverently moaned her name and came, riding out his own orgasm as he flooded his shorts with warm, sticky come.

"Mmmm God... Veronica, so good... sofuckinggood," he breathed heavily, opening his eyes just in time to see Veronica pull her sticky hand from his shorts. She brought it to her face, looked at it, and then sniffed curiously at one wet finger before sucking into her mouth, and Logan groaned lustfully.

"Jesusfuckingchrist... that is so fucking hot," he rushed out before crashing his mouth down on hers and kissing her absolutely breathless.

Veronica couldn't decide whether she like the taste of come, couldn't really figure out what it tasted of... but she didn't have much time to ponder when Logan took her lips again in such a possessive way she didn't have any choice other than to surrender.

When he pulled back, Logan touched his forehead to hers and closed his eyes. "You're amazing, do you know that?"

She wiped her hand on the towel before gently stroking it up his back, ignoring the imperfections she could feel marring his beautiful tanned skin. "You're not so bad yourself."

"Did... did you mean it?" he then asked so quietly she nearly missed it. She looked up to see the undisguised hope shining in his eyes and licked her lips.

"Mean what?"

"You love me." It wasn't quite a question, but Logan waited for an answer anyway.

Veronica felt the butterflies fluttering in her stomach again, and smiled. He'd said the three little words, and she'd felt the magic right through to her soul, and she nodded, "Yes."

Logan kissed her again, unable to keep the smile from his face. "God, I love you too," he sighed before pulling her close and just holding her tight in his arms.

A long while later, after lying in the privacy of the gazebo, cuddling under the single towel, Logan made them both sandwiches, and they ate Cheetos until their fingertips turned orange, and drank soda under the shade of a parasol, and then spent the rest of the afternoon just enjoying each others company and simply being teenage kids in love.

-vm-

Before long, the sun was setting behind the huge Echolls mansion and it was time for Veronica to go. Logan helped her dress and carried her bag to the LeBaron sat on the drive, dropping it into the passenger seat before taking her into his arms and kissing her so sweetly that she practically melted.

"I had a good time today," Logan murmured against her lips as he spun her around.

"Me too," Veronica smiled leaning forward to kiss him again. His skin warmed her through the tee shirt he'd put back on, and she sighed blissfully when he slanted his mouth over hers and kissed her deeply again, her fingers twisting in the light cotton.

She felt heat rushing through her body, remembering what they'd done together earlier, and pressed herself even closer to him, drowning in her senses. Logan took his time, moaning so softly that she barely felt the rumble in his chest, stroking his tongue languidly against hers, but never pushing too far. It was gentle, tender, and mind blowing, and Veronica felt like she was flying all over again.

When he pulled back, Veronica breathed out a long happy sigh, hooking her arms around his neck until the feeling in her legs came back. Logan smiled down at her, his warm chocolate brown eyes twinkling.

"I wish you didn't have to go."

"Me too, but I have a curfew," she shrugged sadly and finally let him go. "When do your parents get home?"

"No idea. If I'm lucky they might decide to stay in LA for the next eighteen months," Logan muttered. He opened the car door for her and stepped back.

Veronica squeezed his hand. There was nothing she could really say to that and leaned in for a last kiss instead. "I love you," she mouthed silently smiling when he stroked her hair tenderly from her face and kissed her nose, her cheeks and then her lips.

"I love you," he mouthed back, holding her gaze until she reluctantly climbed into the car.

"See you tomorrow at school."

"Yeah," Logan nodded, smiling as the engine started after the second try. "Drive carefully, Veronica."

She saw him standing, quietly watching her leave, in her rear view as she drove away, and it took all of her will power not to slam on the breaks and go back to him. But she didn't and managed to make it all the way home.

Keith had just finished making her a mug of hot chocolate when she walked in, just short of her curfew, and, suddenly exhausted, she kissed him goodnight taking it to bed with her.

She sipped it silently thinking about everything that had happened over the last few days, eventually falling into bed with a smile.

~VM~VM~VM~VM~VM~VM~

Monday morning started off well when Veronica arrived at school to see the paparazzi finally gone from the gate. She parked her car just in time to see Logan pull into a parking bay, and headed straight for him.

"Good morning, sweetpea," he grinned gathering her up for a kiss. Veronica laughed and shook her head.

"You're in a good mood today!"

"Yup! My mom came home last night and told me Aaron had to fly to Vancouver for an urgent meeting," he grinned. "Something about his latest project."

"Vancouver? For how long?" she asked taking his hand as they walked towards the school doors. Logan spotted Duncan and waved.

"Yo, DK! Wait up, man!" He turned back to Veronica, "At least three weeks, maybe longer."

Duncan met them at the door and fist-bumped Logan. Veronica smiled at the Kane heir, receiving a polite nod in return.

"So, I need to talk to you," Veronica murmured to Logan as they walked to his locker, but Dick suddenly appeared next to her, interrupting them. He was wearing a green t-shirt with Ask me about my T-Rex written across his chest, and his blonde hair was messy and still damp from surfing.

"Yo, dude, you missed some gnarly waves this morning," he announced shaking his head like a shaggy dog and showering Veronica with salty droplets of ocean water.

"Dude!" Logan snapped hearing his girlfriend huff in annoyance. Dick immediately apologised and looked contrite... for all of two seconds, before waggling his eyebrows and grinning.

"So, Ronnie, you gonna ask me, or what?"

Veronica just rolled her eyes and shook her head, ignoring Dick's pout. He could keep his T-Rex for all she cared. She turned away from him and leaned against the lockers waiting for Logan to grab his books for the first class while absently listening to the flaky 09er telling Logan about the radical tube he'd rode hard, complete with inappropriate innuendo, for her sake she was sure.

"Sounds great, man," Logan nodded slamming his locker shut. Veronica pulled her denim jacket tighter around her body and stood up straight.

"So, you and me, dude... some tasty waves in the AM? Can I pencil you in?" Dick grinned, blocking their path waiting for an answer. Logan stopped abruptly and blew out an irritated breath.

"Dick, move, man," he muttered pulling Veronica to his side. Dick looked at them both and a slow smile spread on his face and he winked.

"Riiight," he drawled, and moved allowing them pass him with a sweep of his arm. "Sorry, guys, didn't mean to interrupt your early mornin' delight!"

Twisting around to scowl at Dick, Veronica pulled a face when she saw the annoying blonde crudely thrusting his hips into the air and basically embarrassing himself.

"Ignore him," Logan said, noting disappointedly that Duncan had already slipped away and disappeared into a classroom. He escorted Veronica to her locker and casually leaned up against it watching Dick crowd a group of squealing girls, his t-shirt pulled over his face showing a picture of a T-Rex on the underside, and roaring like a moron. Logan chuckled at his friend's stupid antics for a few seconds, then turned his full attention back to Veronica, "So, what did you want to talk to me about?"

"What?" Veronica murmured from inside the locker.

"Yesterday, by the pool?" he grinned knowingly running a single finger down her arm.

Grabbing her health class folder, Veronica smiled at Logan but shook her head. "No."

"No?" Logan repeated leaning in close. "Well they do say actions are better than words..."

She moaned softly when his lips met hers, but then reluctantly pulled away. "Logan, I need to ask you something. Can we..." she motioned to an empty room. Logan stood up and nodded.

"Must be something serious," he noted closing the door and blocking out the noise of the school. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah," Veronica smiled, and then rushed out, "My dad wants to talk to your mom."

Logan immediately stiffened and his face quickly became guarded and blank of all emotion. "Why?"

"You know why," she answered softly reaching out to him, relieved when Logan didn't pull away.

Of course he knew why Keith wanted to talk to his mom, but Logan didn't ever want to put her in a dangerous position, and talking to the former sheriff of Balboa County about the fact that her husband physically abused his son was just asking for the worst kind of trouble. Logan had always hoped though, that given half the chance, his mom would willingly do anything to help him, but the cost would simply be too high.

And Logan couldn't live with that. "No, it's too dangerous," he shook his head. "If Aaron found out, he'd kill her."

Veronica linked her fingers with his. It was terrifying to think he was right about that, but she believed him all the same, and decided not to push him further. "Please think about it, Logan."

Expecting her to kick the persuasion into high gear until he gave in, Logan blinked in surprise when Veronica just stood quietly holding his hand. He kissed her forehead and lingered a moment, breathing in the fresh clean scent of her hair. "Okay," he murmured pulling away again.

-vm-

All through his first period, Logan thought about the hundreds of scenarios that could happen if his mom did talk to Keith. Out of all of them, there was only one good outcome; and that ended with Aaron sharing a stinking prison cell playing bitch to a nasty, mean, three hundred pound hardass called Tiny.

The rest all ended with his mom beaten black and blue, or worse, dead at the bottom of the river, along with his own bloodied corpse.

Rubbing a hand over his face, Logan stared sightlessly at the board watching Mr Daniels writing something in white chalk. He picked up his pencil and started absently doodling on the blank paper in front of him. After a minute though, he began to feel the hairs on his neck prickle as if someone was staring at him and turned to see Weevil smirking.

"They teach you manners in ESL, cholo?" Logan muttered irritably, his pencil pressing hard against the paper. The nib broke and he threw it down angrily. It rolled onto the floor with a clatter. Weevil just snickered.

Mr Daniels twisted around from the board and glared at the two boys making a noise in his class. "Do you have something to say, Mr Echolls?"

Logan sighed heavily and shook his head.

"Mr Navarro?"

"I didn't even say anything?" Weevil complained indignantly and this time Logan snickered. Daniels scowled waving his finger at them both.

"I guess Mrs Daniels ain't giving it up at home, huh?" Logan muttered under his breath.

"You know," Daniels snapped annoyed now, "The glow of your father's wealth and celebrity may be enough to sustain you through high school, Mr Echolls, but do you know what it will get you in the real world?"

Hopefully as far away from Neptune and his father as he could get, Logan thought bitterly, but instead of voicing his private thoughts, he sat up in his seat and smirked, clasping his hands together as in prayer and raised his eyes upwards towards the heavens. "Please say high school English teacher. Please say high school English teacher..."

Weevil chuckled loudly and Mr Daniels slammed his hands down on the small desk in front of him making Weevil merely raise his eyebrows.

"Mr Navarro. I wonder if you'll find Mr Echolls so amusing ten years from now," he deadpanned, "When you're pumping his gas."

"Whatever," Weevil snorted disdainfully as Logan grinned snidely at him.

"See me after class, the both of you. I'll tell you where to report for detention!"

Great! Just fucking great, thought Logan, and he threw another hateful sneer at Weevil who was still glaring at him. For the rest of the lesson, Logan ignored the PCHer and stared out of the classroom window, his thoughts quickly drifting back to the dark scenarios that had filled his mind earlier.

-vm-

Mr Daniels stood up and walked around his desk playing idly with his tie as he leaned his ass cheeks on the polished surface. He smoothed his fingers over his moustache before sighing at the two silent boys still sat in the otherwise empty classroom.

He was actually surprised that Logan had done as requested and stayed behind after all the upset with the press this week. Usually when a student from a wealthy, high profile family was being singled out in the tabloids, for whatever reason, the school often turned a blind eye to any indiscretion committed in case it fuelled the paparazzo's insatiable appetite for gossip. It wasn't a fair system, but Neptune was divided by class, and there wasn't a better text book example of that than Logan Echolls and Eli Navarro. Saying that, Daniels tried to treat all his students the same, regardless of where they lived or how rich they were.

"You know, the two of you may not have learned respect in the home..."

Logan snorted at that.

Glaring at him, Daniels raised his voice, "But you are going to learn it here!"

"Lovely," Logan sneered.

"You know what I love?" Weevil spat out. Daniels snapped his eyes to him, but Logan just rolled his and carried on scraping flakes of varnish off his desk with his thumb nail. "I love that I get a detention when he," Weevil scowled at Logan, "was the one talking to me! He gets a detention for dissing you in front of everybody and I get one for laughing." He shook his head and turned to Logan, "Let me ask you something, man..."

"Is this detention, or hell?" Logan growled. Daniels folded his arms and frowned hard. He'd heard from Clemmons about the altercation between Echolls and Navarro in the parking lot of the school the week previously and it was obvious that these two boys had an issue to deal with... and, ever the optimist, Daniels was curious to see if they could sort it out.

"How do you people not make yourselves sick?" Weevil spat. "I mean, it's like you walk on water in this school, and for what? It's nothing that you do. I mean, all that matters is who your parents are and the zip code your mom shot you out!"

Sitting up so fast Logan's chair scraped the floor loudly, Daniels took a hasty step forward at the murderous look on the boy's face. Maybe not, he thought.

"Gentlemen!"

"And if I donate to the United Latino Pain-in-the-Ass Fund, will you shut the fuck up?" Logan sneered ignoring Daniels until the man stood right in front of him.

"I will not tolerate that kind of language in my classroom, Mr Echolls," he stated with a stern look. Logan just looked away. Daniels flicked his eyes to Weevil and saw the same angry, obstinate expression and inwardly sighed. He knew leaving these two boys in the same room, alone, would probably end up in bloodshed, and ran a hand over his moustache again.

Decision made, he straightened his back and addressed both boys, "Okay, you gentlemen have one last chance. Use this experience as a reminder that I will not tolerate misbehaviour in my class. Next time I won't be so lenient."

Without even looking up, Logan grabbed his books and left the room with a muttered "whatever." Weevil raised his eyebrows and walked out a little slower, tipping an imaginary hat at the teacher just before disappearing out of the door. Mr Daniels slumped back against his desk and sighed wearily.

"I don't get paid enough for this," he mumbled straightening his tie again.

-vm-

Veronica frowned when she saw Logan enter the quad later that day with a scowl on his face. "Hey, are you alright?"

"Yeah," he muttered kissing her gently with a sigh. "I am now."

"Rough morning?" she asked as they sat down together. But then Dick, Sean and Casey all descended on them and squeezed onto one bench, the look of glee on Dick's annoying face enough to make her want to slap it right off.

"Dude, so, you an' Weevil, huh?" Dick winked. "I hope you beat that PCH scum down, man!"

"What?" Logan frowned. He shook his head. "I don't know what you're talking about, Dick."

"Daniels' detention! Heard it was a smack down. You an' Weevil, man!" Sean grinned.

Glancing at Logan's irritated expression, Veronica snapped her fingers to get Dick's attention. The blonde frowned but then smiled at her.

"Ronnie! Didn't see you there."

"Dick, what the hell are you on about?" she demanded to know. Dick leaned forward making her lean away slightly.

"Rumour has it, Logan here is the Man!" he said grinning widely at Logan. "Dude totally kicked Paco's ass. Ask Daniels! He had to drag Logan off him!"

"Dick," Logan sighed rubbing his face. "Didn't happen. You're so full of shit, man. I can't believe you listen to that crap! We had a detention, which Daniels incidentally let us both off." He turned to Veronica. "I didn't touch Weevil."

"What the fuck?" Dick bleated slapping Sean across his shoulder. "Who the fuck told you that shit, dude?"

Sean sputtered and stormed away, Casey shrugging apologetically. Dick dragged a hand through his hair and slumped down on the bench looking pissed off.

"Well, that was entertaining," Veronica huffed taking Logan's hand and standing up. "Come on."

They walked hand in hand to his X-Terra. Logan unlocked it and opened the door, "We going somewhere?"

"Yeah, my place." She checked her watch, "We have forty minutes, half an hour if you can get there and back in five."

A slow smile filled Logan's face and he ran around to the driver's side as Veronica climbed into the car laughing.

-vm-

"Oh God... Logan!" she cried as her body tingled and shivered through her orgasm. Logan slowed his hand and eased her down with gentle strokes. He lifted his fingers and sucked on them, savouring her sweetness as she calmed her breathing and moaned blissfully.

"You okay?"

"God, you're good at that," Veronica sighed pulling him down for a kiss, groaning deep in her throat when she tasted herself on his lips. She moved her hand down his body and slipped it into his cargo pants, growling when her wrist got stuck.

Logan chuckled and helpfully popped open the button and zipper, his soft laugh turning into a heavy moan when her fingers wrapped around him.

"God, you're good at that," he echoed breathily and she smiled, twisting her hand and slowly working him until he was thrusting out of control and coming with a hoarse growl.

She pulled her hand out and rubbed her sticky fingers together, watching the pearly fluid glisten in the sun beam that was shining through her window. "You know, I think this tastes a little like pancake batter," she said licking her palm. "Little salty, but not bad..."

"You are just... God, I fucking love you," Logan gasped seeing her tongue lap up his come from her fingers. The sight was so erotic. He moved her hand from her mouth and kissed her again, pouring everything he had into it.

"Love you too," she panted when he finally pulled back licking his lips. She stroked her fingers down his bare back and back up again. "Hey, what time is it?"

"It's okay, we have five more minutes," he sighed settling down, eyes closing, his face nuzzled in her neck.

"Don't go to sleep!"

"I'm not. I'm thinking of drive through burgers actually."

Veronica lifted her head and Logan chuckled. "I could go for some fries and an apple pie."

"Your wish," Logan grinned sitting up and offering his hand, "My command."

They dressed quickly and within minutes were en route to the nearest McDonalds. Veronica switched on the radio and twiddled the knob to a celebrity gossip station, playfully slapping away Logan's hand when he tried to stop her.

"...hot news from across the pond! Teenage heart throb Lyndon Morgan-Price has hit the headlines in the entertainment world with a splash... More like a tidal wave, dude!... You said it! A total wipe out when an audio file was sent anonymously to a number of media outlets, including this one!... Did you listen to it?... I did and seriously, man, made me feel sick. It's clearly Price on there, no mistake. Whoever it was that sent it, did the world a favour in my opinion... I agree, and not only did this kid assault and try to rape the brave girl that exposed him, but five others have now come forward too. The son of renowned British actors is currently under house arrest in the UK, according to sources... Well, golly-gee, mummy and daddy must be so proud!... Ha! This is one dude that's had his day. Price, best known for his roles in a number of teen movies and as the lovable big brother, Stan, on the British soap drama The Street, is said to have pleaded guilty to the charges and will probably..."

Logan switched the radio off. He pulled into the drive through and parked for a moment. "So, it worked."

"Yeah," Veronica frowned. She unconsciously hugged herself and Logan gently pulled her to him across the seats.

"He deserves everything he gets for what he did. To you, and to those five girls that have come forward, and all those that are still too afraid," he murmured into her hair. "I am so proud of you, Veronica."

Smiling, she breathed a sigh of relief. It was over, and now she could sleep easy knowing that Lyndon Morgan-Price was finally paying for what he did.

~VM~VM~VM~VM~VM~VM~

Jazz music filled the house when Logan got home after school. He smiled when he opened the door and closed his eyes for a moment just listening.

"Logan, darling," Lynn smiled warmly seeing him, "Dance with me!"

Not really able to deny his mother anything, Logan slipped his arm around her waist and took her hand, and together they danced around the room, laughing. He could smell the faint traces of alcohol on her breath, but otherwise his mom seemed sober and... happy.

"You're getting good, sweetheart, have you been practicing?" she asked impressed with his moves.

"Always, mom," he grinned spinning her around, her flowing silk dress twirling like petals in a gentle breeze. The music stopped and he took her hand and kissed it. Lynn laughed sweetly and pulled him into a hug, cupping his face and kissing him tenderly on the cheek. She looked at him for a moment, seeing the fading remnants of bruises, her smile falling into sadness and regret, and Logan lowered his eyes, not wanting to see that.

"I'm so sorry for everything," she whispered softly. "If I was stronger... I'm so sorry, Logan..."

Blinking away the tears that stung behind his eyes, Logan gripped her hand and kissed her palm, nodding. "I know."

And then he remembered what Veronica had said about her dad wanting to talk to Lynn, and maybe, if they were careful... But he didn't know what his mom would do if she found out that her and Keith knew about the abuse...

Inhaling sharply, he decided what the hell, and told her. "Mom, will you talk to Keith Mars about... how dad abuses me?"

Lynn's eyes widened and she stepped back, shock and fear on her face. Logan moved towards her and she held up a hand. "No, don't, Logan... How does..." She pressed a hand to her forehead, "Keith Mars knows? How does he know?"

"Mom-"

"No! Oh, Logan... do you have any idea-" she stopped and sighed. "Of course you don't. Look, this is a bad idea, baby. If Aaron finds out..."

"He won't mom," Logan shook his head feeling the dread in the pit his stomach growing colder with each passing second. "We won't tell him, and Mr Mars won't. He can help me, mom, help us."

She headed for the kitchen with Logan hurrying to follow, and opened the freezer, pulling out a new bottle of vodka.

"Mom, don't," Logan pleaded, but Lynn ignored him and unscrewed the top, swallowing down the high percentage alcohol for several seconds. Logan sighed miserably and felt like a failure watching his mom seemingly change in front of him. Her happy demeanour from earlier now gone and replaced with a perfect Hollywood facade, a role she'd been made to play for years.

"Darling, you know it's best if we keep this to ourselves," Lynn told him like she was talking to a small child. Logan opened his mouth to object, but she carried on, "Your father works very hard and sometimes gets stressed. You know he doesn't mean to hurt you. He loves you, Logan. He loves us."

Logan closed his mouth and swallowed over the lump in his throat as Lynn gently framed his face with her cold hands.

"He's your father, Logan," she said, and then left him totally alone, taking the vodka with her.

Ms Alvarez walked in then with a brown paper bag of fresh vegetables tucked under one arm. Logan glared at her before leaving the kitchen himself. He was on his own now. His mom wasn't going to help him.

-vm-

-no go with mom

-i'm so sorry logan

-its ok

-we can still do it w/out her. Be strong. I love you xx

-i don't know. Maybe this was a bad idea

Veronica stared at her cell and sighed until it beeped again with -love you too. She looked up at the clock and knew it was way too late to drive over to Logan's, but she desperately needed to talk to him and determinedly called instead.

"Logan, this is just a hiccup," she said as soon as her call was answered.

"Yeah, a hiccup with a fatal diagnosis," Logan grumbled back. Veronica heard him blow out a weary breath before he continued, "I'm just scared she'll say something now, Veronica."

Biting her lip, Veronica shook her head. No... No way would Lynn deliberately put Logan in danger by telling Aaron that she and her dad knew what he did to his son... but... "Do you think she will?"

Logan didn't answer.

"Logan?"

"I don't know," he whispered wretchedly. "I mean I hope not, but... the alcohol..."

She knew exactly what he was talking about. Her own mom was the same; all the alcohol in her system made her tongue loose, and she often said things that were then too late to take back.

"I'm sure your mom won't say anything, Logan," Veronica said hoping she was telling the truth. "She loves you."

"I know, but... I wish I'd never started this," he murmured and Veronica closed her eyes feeling his misery through the call as tangible as if he was sat next to her. "But I'll soon be eighteen and then it's bon voyage!"

He exaggerated the last two words, and Veronica heard the pain in his voice. But she knew if he did leave at eighteen, Aaron would likely cut him off just to spite him, and Logan would be left alone and penniless.

Well, he wouldn't be alone; he would have her, and together they could and would survive anything.

"Where shall we go?" she asked smiling when Logan paused and then chuckled.

"I'm thinking anywhere far away from here, by the ocean," he answered softly. "The Caribbean, or Hawaii... We could buy a boat and sell fishing excursions to the tourists, take them scuba diving, surf after work and make love in our small beach front house with the windows open and the warm sea breeze cooling us down..."

God that sounded so dreamy that Veronica was already halfway there. She leaned back on her bed and, knowing she was all alone in the apartment, she suddenly felt very daring, in a mischievous playful way, and slipped her fingers under the elastic waistband of her pyjama shorts. "Sounds perfect... so making love under the stars, huh?"

-vm-

Veronica's tone lowered slightly and Logan smiled at the provocative huskiness he could hear. He brought one leg up on his bed and palmed himself through his boxers.

"Yeah, on the beach in the moonlight with the ocean waves gently hissing on the shore..." Logan whispered moving his hand inside the material now and wondering if she was touching herself too. "Veronica? I'm touching you... let me touch you," he murmured tentatively, holding his breath and hoping...

"Ohhh," Veronica breathed a moment later, and he was instantly hard. Oh God... Logan's breath whooshed out of him and he gripped himself firmly and started pumping.

"That's it, baby. I'm stroking you so slowly, rubbing your clit... Rub your clit, Veronica," he said, his voice breathy and low. "Fuck you're so wet..." He could hear her panting and repeated, "Tell me how wet you are..."

"Mmm Logan."

"Tell me. Say it, Veronica..." he gently coaxed again. "Tell me how wet you are. Tell me how it feels..."

"Nnnhh... f-feels good. I'm... really wet... God..."

He heard her swallow and gasp, and closed his eyes shuddering hard on his bed. He could see in his mind her small fingers slipping between her warm, moist folds, and his dick hardened and jerked in his hand. Fuck, she was amazing!

"Logan? Logan, I... I'm touching you too..." There was a hint of nerves in her voice, but she fearlessly carried on, and Logan had to jam his cell against his shoulder so that he could roughly grab his balls to stop himself coming too soon.

"I'm kissing down your body and lowering your pants, Logan. You're not wearing any boxers and your dick is so hard and ready for me... Are you ready for me?"

"Yeah," he swallowed hard, holy shit!, "Yeah, I'm ready... you're touching me and fuck you feel so good..." He heard her gasp breathlessly and knew she'd just pushed her fingers inside herself, and he almost came.

"Yes, oh... oh yeah... I'm... God, I'm putting my mouth on you... gonna ohgodyes!... gonna suck you, Logan... my hot mouth... Jesus!"

She was close, Logan could tell by her panting, and pressed the cell closer to his ear, pumping his hand faster now. "That's it, baby, suck me... God, you're so hot, Veronica, gonna come in your mouth..."

"Ahh Ahh fuck... Logan, God... Oh God, Oh God... I'm c-coming..." and he listened to the sweet sound of Veronica coming just as he shot his load all over his hand and stomach.

Panting heavily, Logan chuckled breathlessly into the phone, "Jesus, Veronica... I am so in love with you right now... That was amazing."

"I can't believe we just did that," she laughed sounding surprised and embarrassed, and fumbled with her phone for a moment. "Hang on, shit... call you back in a sec." Logan just had time to frown at his cell and end the call when it rang again. "I just sent you something."

He looked at the screen and opened the new attachment to find an image of her hand, all shiny and wet, and his dick twitched as he realised what he was seeing. "Holy fuck..."

"I thought you'd like to see what you do to me... Now you'd better delete that," she threatened with a laugh, but Logan knew she was deadly serious and he erased the image from his phone.

"It's gone, and just so you know, I'll definitely show you what I can do to you," he growled, "tomorrow, we'll skip study hall."

"Oooo is that a promise?"

"I've created a monster!" he laughed with her until she sighed. "Seriously though, thanks, Veronica. I know I can always count on you to cheer me up..." ...when hell is trying to swallow me whole, he finished silently.

"Always, Logan," she murmured softly, "I'll always be here for you."

~VM~VM~VM~VM~VM~VM~

Cutting class early, Logan was on the way to meet Veronica when he saw Duncan standing alone at his open school locker. He'd wanted to talk to his best friend about his new relationship with Veronica ever since they began dating, but Duncan had never given him the chance.

"Hey, Duncan," Logan smiled determined not to let the boy disappear on him again, and taking full advantage of the deserted hallway and opportunity to talk in private. Duncan looked up from the box of videotapes he was holding and frowned. Logan caught the awkward look, and tried not to let it bother him.

"Yeah, so I just wanted to talk with you. You gotta minute?"

"Ah... sorry, I gotta go," Duncan mumbled. He had a fair idea what Logan wanted to talk with him about, and really didn't want to get into it with him yet. He was still trying to process the feeling of betrayal of his so-called best friend seeing the only girl he'd ever loved behind his back.

"Seriously, just one minute. Come on, man," Logan insisted when Duncan looked ready to leave. The Kane heir sighed and eventually nodded when Logan added, "please."

"Yeah, okay."

"About me and Veronica," Logan started and Duncan looked away troubled. "Look, man, you know I'd never make a move on her if you were still together, but you dumped her, remember?"

Duncan winced. Yes, he remembered all too well. But that still didn't mean it was okay for Logan to move in on Veronica without at least mentioning it to Duncan first. Right?

He clenched his teeth, but Logan moved closer, continuing quietly, "You never told me why you guys broke up, and truthfully, I don't care. I do care that you seem to have a problem with us dating now."

"Are you serious?" Duncan snapped, frowning hard. He lifted a finger and stabbed it at Logan, "You've hated Veronica for months, and now you're together? I don't get it, man..."

Logan lowered his eyes and rubbed his fingers across his forehead, jumping when Duncan abruptly slammed his palm against the lockers right by his head. For a moment, Logan's eyes widened at the anger twisting Duncan's expression, and he stood up to his full height, heart beginning to rush adrenalin through his veins. But as quickly as fury in Duncan's eyes appeared, it deflated again and the only thing Logan saw then was the same apathetic blankness he'd been wearing since Lilly had died.

"Duncan-"

"I just don't get it, Logan," he repeated dully shaking his head.

Blowing out a breath, and more than a little disappointed in Duncan's lack of response, Logan leaned back against the lockers. "It's kinda complicated, but I've woken up and seen the errors of my ways." He stood up and faced his friend, adding seriously, "I'll be the first to admit I was a total jackass, and what I did to Veronica was truly despicable. But here's the thing... we found something, together. It's amazing! I love her, man." Duncan stared wide eyed at Logan as he finished softly, "and she loves me."

Looking down at the box of tapes again, Duncan furrowed his eyebrows. Despite knowing the real reason he ended his own relationship with Veronica, he still had feelings for her, and hearing Logan talk of love really tore at his heart.

Logan slumped against the lockers again and glanced up at his friends face, seeing the troubled expression easily in his dull blue eyes. "Veronica's happy, I'm happy. We're happy together, Duncan, can't you just accept that and be happy for us, too?"

We're happy together... The words felt like cold stabs of ice in his soul coming from Logan. They should've been Duncan's words. They were his words, once upon a time, before he found out about his father's sordid secret, and he ended it with her. And right then, he realised he'd finally lost Veronica forever, and eventually looked at Logan and nodded, knowing there was nothing else left to lose.

Rushing out a breath of relief, Logan smiled, but somehow knew the friendship he'd once had with Duncan would never be the same again.

An awkward silence hung heavily between them for a few seconds before Duncan turned back to his locker and started checking through the box of video tapes in his hands again, adding another from the small pile in front of him. Logan, suddenly curious, asked, "What're you doing?"

Duncan stopped messing in his locker and glanced at Logan before frowning down at the videotapes. "Ah, my mother thought it would be nice to have a video tribute of Lilly for the dedication ceremony."

Logan raised his eyebrows, "What, she wanted you to do it?" That was typical of Celeste, no forethought of how that would affect Duncan.

"No, my dad did. He wanted someone who knew her."

Oh... Logan didn't know if that was any better by the look on his (once) best friend's face. Duncan was clearly distressed by the whole thing – or he was lying and still had issues with Logan dating Veronica, but he stepped forward anyway, "Do you want me to do it, man?" he offered, then pushed when Duncan hesitated, "You know I'm awesome at this stuff. Come on, let me do it. I wanna do it."

Nodding his head, Duncan handed over the box of tapes with a small smile. "Thanks, man."

"Yeah."

Feeling happy that Duncan had finally talked to him and had seemingly accepted his relationship with Veronica, Logan stowed the box in his own locker, walked with Duncan as far as he was going, and then carried on towards the office where he knew Veronica was waiting for him.

"Hey, Lilly's dedication is this week," she said quietly looking down at a flyer in her hand. "Celeste has organised a memorial fountain with a plaque." She smiled softly suddenly lost in a memory of her best friend. Logan draped his arm around her and escorted her to her next class.

-vm-

When Lilly found out that Aaron Echolls abused his son, she'd simply ignored the mass of bruises under Logan's tee shirt and distracted him, in her own special way, until he couldn't even remember his own name. Logan remembered feeling utterly grateful that she'd not asked and questions and more importantly, not treated him any differently.

Lilly Kane had been simply remarkable.

Yeah, okay, so she'd had her bad points, and she'd cheated on him, but her vitality had brightly outshone everything else, and Logan would forever feel blessed that he'd known such a beautiful person, if only for a short time.

Logan sighed and rested his head in one hand as he sat watching the home video's that Duncan had given him. As a child, Lilly was adorable. Sunshine blonde hair and a smile that could melt even Celeste's cold, bitchy heart, he was sure.

His lips turned up softly when the image changed to show a three year old Lilly twirling around in a pink, glittery ballerina dress, her large, innocent blue eyes gazing mischievously at Duncan, who was sat on a blanket, an ice cream cone dripping down one pudgy little hand, a toy truck in the other. Logan chuckled softly when he then watched as Lilly skipped over to the blanket and accidentally nudged her baby brother as he lifted his treat to his mouth, the ice cream hitting Duncan square in the face instead.

Pressing stop, Logan leaned forward and changed the video tape. The next one showed Lilly in a beauty contest, clearly bored, with Celeste beaming proudly beside her. He shook his head fondly when Lilly rolled her eyes at her mom's fussing, and remembered the same look when he'd tried to hide his scars from her a few years later.

"So? What's a few scars between lovers? I don't care, Logan, you shouldn't either..."

At the time, he'd loved Lilly for not caring about them, not even acknowledging them. He could pretend his dad didn't hit him when he was with her, and she'd played nicely into his fantasy that Aaron Echolls was much, much more than just an abuser, but loved his son too.

He realised now, of course, that it was just a fantasy, and playing into it with Lilly obviously had its issues. Trust being one of them. The reality was much better having Veronica love him and his scars, and help him deal with his life instead of ignoring it.

Logan hit the fast-forward and moved onto the next image, until Lilly was making kissy faces at the camera with pigtails in her hair. He paused it and stared at the screen. Blinking, he sniffled softly and slowly pressed eject, shoving the first of the video's in again. He had work to do, and with a heavy exhale, he hit play and started his outline plan for the memorial video.

-vm-

"So, studmuffin, what happened to 'let's ditch study hall', huh?" Veronica smiled as she walked into the journalism classroom, empty except for Logan watching a computer screen and making notes on an A4 pad next to him. He glanced over his shoulder and saw her.

"Yeah, sorry about that," Logan muttered clearly distracted by what he was working on. On the screen were images of a very young Lilly. Veronica sucked in a quiet breath and stepped closer. Lilly looked about two years old, beautiful and innocent, and she watched as the video slowly changed to another one of Lilly flipping through the pages of a large story book in her bed, a doll propped up next to her.

"What are you doing?"

"Assembling the world's most boring memorial video," Logan snorted picking up the videos Duncan had given him. "Ballet, choir recital, debutante crap, girl scouts..."

The computer showed a video of Lilly with a red cowboy hat on her head, riding a pony. Veronica sat down and touched a finger to the screen as Logan sighed heavily, dropping the tapes as if they were on fire.

"...Memories both misty and water-coloured."

Veronica moved her gaze from the screen when it cut to Lilly singing on a sparkling stage. "It's Lilly as a long-distance commercial."

"Well, it isn't really about Lilly, is it?" Logan watched the image for a moment and then laughed, "God, this would piss her off."

"Why are you doing it? I mean," Veronica amended, "I would've thought Duncan..."

"Yeah, I asked him if I could do it."

"You talked to Duncan?"

Knowing that Veronica was subtly asking whether Logan had talked to him about them now dating too, he nodded and looked up.

"He's cool with us."

Veronica smiled and gently squeezed his shoulder before looking back at the screen.

"Are you okay?" she asked, smile fading.

Logan shrugged realising seeing Lilly again, even if only snapshots of her life, affected him more than he thought it would. He sniffed and leaned into Veronica when she slipped her arm around him, flicking the screen off.

"I'm done for now. There's only so much saccharine I can take," he snorted.

"How's it going so far?" Veronica asked when they stood up. She watched him carefully pack the videotapes back into the box and tuck it under his arm to return to his locker.

"It's very Wonder Years... Celeste will love it."

-vm-

After school, Logan followed Veronica home to walk Backup at the beach. He didn't feel like going back to his own house, didn't want to see his mom. He felt betrayed by her, and honestly didn't know if he could look at her the same way again, and he hated himself for that.

Veronica made macaroni when they got back to her apartment. Logan gingerly picked up the packet and pulled a face at the bright orange gloop in her saucepan.

"Trust me, it tastes a lot better than it looks," she promised.

"I'll take your word for that, but if I come down with something, you owe me big time."

"Har har. Grab a couple of plates, and quit yer whinin'!"

Logan scooped up a forkful of the cheesy pasta and cautiously sniffed it. Veronica chewed happily, smirking at the face he was pulling. It smelled sort of cheesy, and he shoved it in his mouth.

"Oh my God," he balked. It tasted like glue and he quickly ran to the bathroom to spit it out to the sound of Veronica laughing her ass off.

"You're priceless, princess," she chortled when he came back. He grabbed an apple from the fruit bowl and bit into it.

"That is disgusting. Seriously, it should come with a health warning," he grumbled, grimacing as Veronica finished off her meal. "I'm not kissing you now, not with plastic cheesy breath. Eww."

"Not even if I," she leaned in close, "lick my way up your body with my naughty, hot tongue?"

He blinked at her, open mouthed, before jumping up and disappearing into the bathroom again.

"What're you doing now?"

"Looking for the damned mouthwash!"

She then laughed as he rushed back into the kitchen, bottle of Listerine in one hand, and hauled her up over one shoulder.

"Sorry, buddy," was the last thing he said before he closed the bedroom door on Backup.

-vm-

Logan lazily protested when Veronica rolled off the bed, leaving him tangled in the sheet, but he enjoyed watching her walk naked to her desk and pull out a mini cassette. She padded back across her bedroom and handed it to him. On it was a little description in her handwriting, 'Fun With Lilly."

"What is it?" Logan asked as she climbed back on top of him.

She rubbed her lips against his chest hair, "It's not a violin recital."

He smiled and put in on the bedside drawers. "Perfect," he murmured just as Veronica found his lips again.

They were both dressed and sitting innocently on the sofa watching TV when Keith walked in. He stopped and stared suspiciously at them for a second, but then smiled.

"Evenin', kids."

"Hey, dad," Veronica greeted him brightly. Logan just smiled back. "There's mac 'n' cheese on the stove."

"Mmm, plastic cheesy pasta. My favourite," Keith smirked, and Logan snorted. The man waved a finger at him, "Don't diss the orange powder packet stuff until you've tried it, kiddo."

"He did," Veronica piped up grinning.

"And I'd rather not try it again. Ever," Logan shuddered dramatically for effect. Keith chuckled and flicked on the gas to heat up his dinner. When they were living pay check to pay check, being picky about what they ate wasn't really a luxury they could afford. He sat down in the armchair and put his plate on his knee, looking up at Logan.

"I'm sorry to hear that your mom won't speak to me," he said quietly when Logan turned to him. "Thank you for asking her – it can't have been easy. I just want you to know that it's okay, I understand, Logan."

Veronica sat quietly listening to her dad, linking her hand with Logan's beside her.

"I know, Mr Mars," Logan nodded. He smiled at the man feeling a sense of trust and knowing that he was safe there. It was a strange thing for him, after years of being abused and alone with his shame, and for the first time in his life, Logan felt like there was hope. He turned to the amazing girl sat next to him and tenderly kissed her forehead. After the months he'd spent taunting and being utterly cruel to her, he still couldn't quite believe she was with him, that she loved him. He knew he didn't deserve her, but Veronica had forgiven him, and that was a miracle in itself. Logan vowed never to forget that.

The future wasn't going to be easy by any means, and Logan was truly afraid of the unknown and what was coming, but with Veronica and Keith in his corner, he felt confident he'd be okay. The love he had in his heart for Veronica warmed him through to his very soul, and he knew that with the love and support she freely offered back, he could survive anything.

Grinning up at Logan, Veronica settled her head comfortably against his shoulder as they finished watching the show that was playing on the television. She felt his arm cuddle around her and sighed happily.

God, she never would've believed it if someone had told her two weeks ago that she would end up being Logan Echolls' girlfriend. But fate was a funny thing, and life sometimes dealt some seriously crazy curveballs... and she was glad.

She'd missed Logan. But even throughout the months he was horrible to her, she never really cut him out of her heart altogether, hoping that one day she'd wake up and he'd smile at her again. And now that had happened. Those few days on board the ship had changed their lives - all their lives, in ways that she still couldn't believe. Learning about Aaron had shocked her to the core, but at the same time it opened her eyes to the reasons behind a lot of Logan's behaviour.

He was still a jackass, of course, but now Veronica saw him for who he really was. Logan had a heart with a capacity to love someone completely, forever. He had a damaged, but beautiful soul, and all he wanted, all he'd ever wanted, was for someone to love him back.

She was now that someone.

On a luxury ship, sailing into the sunset in the wake of a gentle sea spray and slowly rolling waves, Veronica and Logan found more than fond memories at the edge of the ocean, they found themselves.

~VM~VM~VM~VM~VM~VM~

Note- Okay, so this is the end of this fic. When I started, the idea was to just do a story on board the cruise ship, but then it expanded, and then I planned to end it just like this, (with a small half page [not posted] featuring Aaron up to his philandering tricks, along with a copy of the Hello! Magazine cover). After all the reviews though, I realise (along with you!) I think I want to see Veronica tell Logan about her rape, and I so want to see Aaron finally pay for his sins! So, *fingers crossed* that'll come next year.

Thank you for reading and taking time to let me know you enjoyed it, and I hope the end wasn't too bad!

All the best and have a great Christmas, Lulu x