Auhtor's Note: Here, as promised, is the epilogue. For those who want more, I'm considering writing this same story from Logan's perspective, since this one was mostly all about Veronica. Any interest in such a story?
As always, I only own the OCs. Everything and everyone else bleongs to Mr. Rob Thomas and the fine people who created 'Veronica Mars'.
Logan knocked on Veronica's bedroom door. "Aren't you ready yet?"
"Give me a minute. I'll be right out."
"You said that fifteen minutes ago. Wallace already got sick of waiting and left in his car. If you don't hurry up, we might end up late for our 10 year reunion as well."
The door opened suddenly. Veronica stood in the doorway, exasperated.
"Why are you so impatient? Are you really in that much of a hurry to find out what Madison Sinclair has been doing since high school?"
"No…I'm just that impatient to walk into that gym with you by my side."
The exasperation left her immediately. Her gaze softened. She just wasn't used to hearing Logan Echolls say things like that to her. It made her melt every time, and she had a feeling he knew it. She leaned up on her toes, and kissed him softly. "Since you have such an excellent reason, we can leave right now. Let me just put on lipstick and grab my purse." She dashed back into her room, grabbed a few things, shoved them into a purse, and dashed back out.
"Ready?" he queried.
"Ready," she replied with a smile. Never in her wildest dreams did she ever imagine that she would actually look forward to a Neptune High reunion.
Then again, she also never imagined that life would turn out the way it had. Thanksgiving had been so perfect that she still had trouble believing it had been real. Okay, so her father burnt the mashed potatoes, and Darrell spilled beer on the sofa during a crucial football play. But the little mishaps just made it so much more homey and comfortable. Especially since she got to sit around the dinner table with the family she adored and the only man she'd ever truly loved…at the same time.
At first, she'd been nervous, expecting to get strange looks from her family every time that Logan touched her. Whenever he'd twined his fingers in hers, or toyed with the ends of her hair, or called her by any endearment, she'd glance surreptitiously at her father or Wallace. The fact that they showed no surprise, or any emotion at all, only made her more uneasy. She kept expecting some kind of comment as soon as she was alone with either one. After all, in high school, both of them had had plenty to say about the idea of her dating Logan Echolls. But they said nothing.
It had been Alicia who broke the ice first, while the two of them were getting dinner ready.
"Did I ever tell you how I knew that Wallace was finally okay with the idea of me marrying your father?"
Veronica had been taken by surprise by the question. It really seemed to come out of the blue. "No. How did you know?"
"We'd just had dinner together, the four of us, and Keith had just left. Wallace caught me smiling to myself as I washed the dishes. He stood, watching me until I noticed that he was there. Then he simply said, 'Does he always make you smile like that?' And I said, 'Yes, he does.' So Wallace answered, 'I want you to keep smiling like that, Mom. Until death do you part.' And then he walked out of the kitchen. It took me a while to understand what he was trying to say."
"He's cute when you least expect it, isn't he?" Veronica finally responded, unsure of what she was supposed to say.
"Yes, he is. But I think you know that's not what I'm trying to say."
"Can you just say it, Alicia? Please?"
"You smile when you look at him, Veronica. When you think no one is watching. So the question is, does he always make you smile like that?"
Veronica thought about it for a moment. She looked up at Alicia and smiled. It was all the answer she'd needed to give.
"Honey?" Logan broke into her musings. She tore her gaze from the window, and looked at him. "Honey, we're here. Can we get out of the car now?"
She blushed slightly. He raised an eyebrow, amused. "Care to share your thoughts? The ones that have engrossed you since we got into the car and kept you completely silent all the way here?"
"Sorry, baby. My thoughts will remain private. But I will tell you that they were entirely about you."
"They better be," he replied, in a half-mocking growl. "Especially if they make you smile like that." She grinned, her eyes twinkling, and leaned over to kiss him. When she started to pull away, he grabbed her blouse and yanked her back for a much longer, deeper kiss.
"Good thing you didn't try that at home," she said breathlessly, once she was able to speak again. "We'd never have gotten here at all." His eyes gleamed with something appealingly wicked, and he reached for her again. She held up a hand, and undid her seatbelt. "However…since I did not get dolled up so that you could maul me in a car…I suggest we get this show on the road. Our adoring, and soon to be shocked, fans await."
Moments later, they'd crossed the parking lot and stood in front of the main doors. Veronica stopped, staring at the building.
"What is it?" Logan asked, surprised.
"I used to hate this place so much," she replied. "I honestly never thought I'd step foot in it again. I just wanted to appreciate the feeling of walking into this building willingly." He didn't say anything in response. He simply grabbed her hand, squeezed her fingers lightly, and escorted her inside.
They followed the signs and echoing voices to the gymnasium, which was decorated with crepe paper, blown up photographs from their senior yearbook, and a large sign that read 'Welcome Back to Neptune High!' Veronica chuckled. Madison, it seemed, hadn't changed much in the past five years. The yearbook photos were almost exclusively of 09ers. A small table was set up near the door, and a very pregnant Shelly Pomroy stood behind it, accompanied by a tall, blonde, athletic and bored-looking man that Veronica had never seen. She saw Logan and squealed.
"Logan Echolls! Honey, I told you he'd be here! Madison just didn't believe me, but I knew that you wouldn't stay away." Logan sighed, but so softly that only Veronica could hear.
"You know me, Shelly. I just couldn't stay away," he answered, but his eyes were on Veronica's as he spoke. Seeing the way he was looking at the tiny blonde by his side made Shelly look at her as well. Her mouth dropped open.
"Veronica Mars!" she exclaimed. No one thought that Veronica Mars would show up. No one had even heard from her or about her since graduation. She'd just fallen off the face of the earth. And now she walks in…holding Logan Echolls hand?
"Hello, Shelly. You're looking healthy," Veronica said pleasantly, as though Shelly were not staring at her like she'd suddenly sprouted purple tentacles. She turned to the bored-looking man beside her. "Hello, stranger." He didn't smile, but held out a hand in greeting.
"Dr. Samuel Martin. I'm Shelly's husband." Veronica shook his hand, and then immediately took Logan's again. Shelly still didn't speak. Logan smirked.
"We'll skip the nametags, thanks. And we'll show ourselves to the bar. Sugarpuss, can I get you a drink?" he asked Veronica.
"I'd like a martini, shmoopy-bear. But I'll come with you."
They walked away, hand in hand. Logan looked down at her. "Shmoopy-bear?"
"I don't know what you're talking about."
They barely left each other's side all night, equally enjoying their proximity to one another and the shock and disbelief on the faces of those around them. Veronica was surprised at how much fun she was really having. Sure, the Shellys and Madisons of the world would never change much. Most of her classmates, however, seemed to have left all that high school drama where it belonged…in high school. During one of those rare moments when she and Logan were separated from one another, Veronica found herself having a surprisingly pleasant conversation with Dick Casablancas.
"So, you're the one who took the Presidential Suite, I hear."
"Well, it was either that, or the Bridal Suite. It would just be too sad to be in the Bridal Suite alone."
"Good call," Veronica murmured, swallowing a chuckle. "How long are you in town for?"
"Just another day. I have a meeting in New York on Tuesday, so I'll be flying straight there."
Before Veronica could ask anything else, Dick's attention was claimed by someone else. He started to excuse himself politely, and then stopped. "You know, it really was good to see you, Veronica. I never thought I'd say that. I also never thought you'd have shown up today."
"What can I say?" she answered, her eyes meeting Logan's over Dick's shoulder. She smiled a special smile that he knew was for him and him alone. "I just couldn't resist the idea of a reunion."