A/N: Wow, the end is finally here. I hope you all enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. It's really been fun and the wonderful reviews have kept me motivated. Thanks for all the support throughout this entire fic! The epilogue is actually longer than I intended, but I wanted to wrap things up without it feeling rushed. I think it gives closure while still keeping things open to the imagination. The Madison- centric sequel should be up sometime soon.

Epilogue

Monday morning arrived with an onslaught of blatantly curious stares and a flurry of gossip.

It seemed word had spread quickly though the channels of the student body about the odd occurrences that summarized homecoming night and the subtle changes in the days that followed.

The school was abuzz with confused speculation, especially from the 09er's. Not only had one of their own dared to attack their esteemed leader, but another of their most prominent members had apparently traded in his long time girlfriend for an outsider- who still had yet to be identified. Then there were the outlandish speculations over why Madison Sinclair had been out of reach from even her closest of confidants the entire weekend.

Scrambling to find the most knowledgeable source of the shocking events, students scurried through the halls as they awaited the inevitable fallout.

As if sensing the restlessness of the gathered teenagers, a black jeep screeched into it's alloted parking spot.

Smiling broadly, the muscled blonde hopped out of his jeep, running to the passenger side. Lightly placing her small hand in his large one, Mac allowed Dick to help her step out of the expensive landrover.

Hand in hand, the newest couple of Neptune ambled through the parking lot, pointedly ignoring the excited whispers and calculating looks assailing them.

Knowing they would most assuredly be bombarded with questions and snide remarks when they walked into the building, Dick pulled Mac to a halt by his side. Leaning down, he spoke softly in her ear. "You ready for this?"

There was little doubt in either of their minds that once Mac walked through those doors on Dick's arm, her life was bound to change drastically.

Staring at the entrance to the school, Mac frowned. She didn't remember it ever being as imposing as it looked at the moment. Tapering down the almost overwhelming sense of nausea, Mac sent him a shaky smile. Hoping to channel some of the inner confidence Veronica seemed to easily exude, Mac tossed her head back. "Lets do this thing."

Smiling at her false bravado, Dick squeezed her hand, pausing briefly to give her a reassuring smile before he pulled open the heavy glass door and ushered her through with a practiced ease.

Even though Dick had tried to convey numerous times throughout the weekend the chaos that would ensue on Monday, nothing could have prepared her for the explosive reaction they received walking through the glass doors with clasped hands.

All previous activities halted in favor of gawking at the unlikely couple, sharp eyes critically analyzing the pair's every move. It seemed as though everyone began speaking at once, their muted conversations building into a loud droning, making Mac's ears hurt with the sheer volume.

Letting out an unstable breath, Mac held her head high; refusing to be intimidated by the harsh whispers that reached her ears, knowing any sign of weakness would instantly be noted for future reference.

She hadn't thought it possible, but the calculating looks increased tenfold when Dick wrapped a protective arm around her waist- stating clearly for all to see that the shy brunette in his arms meant more to him than a casual fling.

Used to the amount of attention they were receiving, Dick confidently led Mac through the mob of eager students to a nearby row of lockers where Mac's books were stored.

Sternly chastising herself for the small tremor in her hands, Mac reached up and expertly opened her locker; silently patting herself on the back for managing to not make a fool of herself with such a minor task. From the corner of her eye, she noted the way Dick leaned next to her locker with ease, as if waiting for her was an everyday occurrence.

He was amazed that everyone had managed to be as restrained as they had. Still, common sense let it be known that it was only a matter of time before the unconventional couple was bombarded with prying questions and lude innuendos.

The growing unease in his peers was easy to recognise as they examined the new couple; contemplating the best way to extricate the interloper. It was common knowledge the wealthy teenagers disliked anyone viewed as a threat to their privileged lives- and letting someone who wasn't deemed worthy into their inner circle was definitely a cause for concern.

There was no doubt there would be an attempt to eliminate the problem before it could get out of hand, which meant before Mac could integrate herself into their various cliques, drastic measures would be taken. Instinctively, Dick took a protective step closer to his girlfriend, knowing the vicious and offensive things his friends were capable of when provoked- and walking into school with Mac on his arm could be viewed as nothing less.

Scanning the hall, Dick straightened as his eyes focused on two of his closest friends. At this point, he could use a few comforting words and he most definitely needed assistance in developing a plan to battle the waves of contemptaimed at Mac.

He quickly made a mental note to speak with Logan, knowing the other boy had experience when it came to bending others to his will. After Logan had made it clear that he would not tolerate disrespect to his new girlfriend, the overwhelming scorn most 09ers felt for the blonde had quickly abated. Granted, Veronica was intimidating in her own right and commanded respect, but it was still an impressive feat to change the disposition of the spoiled teens had held onto for so long.

Dick hoped that once his peers overcame their initial prejudice against Mac that she would win them over with her unassuming charm and quick wit, but knowing his classmates as well as he did, Dick knew they would be unwilling to change their attitudes without strong persuasion.

With the firm belief that Veronica would help in any way she could, Dick felt the constriction in his chest ease. The hardship him and Mac were bound to face as a couple seemed less monumental with the endorsement of Veronica and subsequently Logan. The approval of the rest of the 09ers wouldn't be too hard to acquire since, much to Logan's chagrin, almost every guy in school now adored the brash and stubborn blonde. Even the most rebellious of 09ers would soon fall into step and accept the newcomer, most likely with reluctant politeness, once they realized the powerful support Mac was receiving. Dick didn't bother to worry about the rest of the school, it was a given that once the elite group of rich teenagers accepted something as the norm than the rest of the student body would conform to the new perspective.

Taking a step towards his friends, Dick stopped abruptly, hesitation washing over him with the knowledge that once he left his girlfriend's side, she would more than likely be approached by one of the many groups currently sneering in their direction.

Torn between standing protectively over Mac or figuring out a way to end the antagonism directed towards the most important relationship in his life, Dick agitatedly tapped his hand against his leg.

Sensing his anxiousness, Mac glanced up and followed his line of vision to Luke and John; talking animatedly about the most recent game of baseball between rival schools. Mac let out a soft sigh as she noted the look of anticipation in his eyes, it was clear that he wanted to spend some time with his friends, considering his entire weekend had consisted of playing the role of considerate boyfriend, it was more than understanding. Still, his reluctance to leave her side was obvious to anyone watching. Making the decision for him, Mac pushed him toward the two athletic boys, ignoring the brief flash of panic that crossed his features.

When he sent her a puzzled, and somewhat disapproving look she smiled reassuringly and nudged him in the direction of his friends, stating confidently. "Go! I'll be fine."

At the trepidation she could still see in his eyes, Mac pointed out. "You can't guard me forever."

Aware of the many eyes watching their every move, Dick pressed a quick kiss to her cheek before joining his friends, their welcoming smiles letting him know he had their support.

Sighing, Mac glanced awkwardly around the crowded hall, aware of the watchful eye her boyfriend had trained on her. Comforted with the knowledge that Dick was prepared to sprint to her side in an instant should she need his assistance, Mac felt a small burst of confidence.

Her self-assurance was short lived however when snide laughter reached her ears, making Mac wince. Glancing over her shoulder, she spotted several girls she instantly recognised as Madison's friends; all eyeing her with clear disdain, occasionally tittering over what could only be assumed was less than flattering commentary.

Self consciously glancing at the gathered crowds, Mac shut her locker with a snap, turning to scan the hall. She let out a relieved smile when her eyes landed on friendly faces.

With a half wave to Dick, Mac made her way towards the bantering friends; smiling when she heard the good natured teasing.

"I'm just saying that I was right, which would make you…what's that word again?" Wallace mock frowned, pretending to puzzle over the elusive word. Snapping his fingers together, he grinned smugly. "Oh, yeah! The word I'm looking for would be wrong. As in, Veronica was wrong and Wallace was right."

Rolling her eyes at her best friend's antics, Veronica smiled in concession. "I'll admit that maybe, just a little tiny bit, that you were right."

"Hey, guys." Mac greeted, putting a halt to their playful repartee. Curiosity getting the better of her, she couldn't resist asking. "What are you two talking about?"

The glare Veronica sent her was offset by the brilliant smile that quickly found it's way onto Wallace's face.

Before the blonde had the chance to end the conversation once and for all, Wallace gleefully spoke. "Oh, just about how I always knew there was something special between V and Logan." Unable to resist rubbing his victory in his best friend's face a little more, he continued. "Even when she was blind to it, I could tell."

"Nobody likes I told you so." Veronica pouted, gritting her teeth as her two friends continued to grin widely at her. "And, by the way, I happen to like my Wallace humble."

Sensing his friend's mounting annoyance, which was only a moment from turning into a full blown foul mood at any moment, Wallace searched his mind for the one thing that always managed to put the blonde in a chipper mood.

With a flash of sheer brilliance, he thought of the perfect idea. "How about this weekend, we do a movie marathon? We can watch all the great classics!"

If he was honest with himself, Wallace's suggestion wasn't just for the blonde's benefit. He missed the hours of quality time the two used to spend together before basketball practice and fake relationships began to consume valuable time. Somehow their weekly movie nights had been the first of many casualties to their hectic schedules. It wasn't as if they didn't spend time together anymore, but they rarely had time for lazy moments of doing nothing more than simply enjoying the others company- and Wallace was surprised to learn that those were the moments he missed the most.

"Don't you have a game this weekend?" Veronica asked, disappointment heavy in her tone.

Hoping to appease his best friend, Wallace shrugged. "Three hours- tops."

Not bothering to hide her skepticism, Veronica sighed. No matter how good Wallace's intentions may be, when he found himself surrounded by his teammates, he tended to forget all prior obligations- especially after a game.

Over the past month, Veronica had to remind herself repeatedly that she was happy Wallace had found something he was good at- more importantly, something he truly enjoyed. Still, sometimes it was hard sharing her bestfriend with fifteen teenage boys and she often found herself missing earlier in the year, when it had just been the two of them against the world.

"V, I promise. This weekend will be all about-" Cringing at the next words that were about to come out of his mouth, Wallace continued with a pained expression. "-BFF bonding time." The humiliation of speaking the three dreaded words he vowed never to be associated with were worth the blow to his male ego when Veronica's face lit up, eyes sparkling with happiness. Hoping to detract attention from his previous statement, Wallace excitedly continued his plans for their movie fest weekend. "We can order Italian and eat sickening amounts of junk food! Raisinets, Snickerdoodles, Twizlers, Milk Duds…"

At Wallace's enthusiastic litany of his favorite candies, Veronica smiled indulgently; making a mental note to stock her cabinets with all his favorites for the upcoming weekend.

"You're forgetting the core candy group!" Mac interjected, appalled that he would overlook such an important element of junk food. "Fruit flavored candy!"

"I covered that already." Wallace defended. "I said Twizlers."

"Twizlers?" Mac snorted, prepared to debate the true components of the fruit flavored category. "They don't count."

Veronica smiled as her two friends stared each other down, both more than willing to continue their disagreement. The absurdity of the entire conversation adding a playful feel to the atmosphere, allowing them to forget the difficulties in their lives for a moment.

"Of course they do!" Wallace insisted, clearly offended that his expertise in sugary treats was being challenged.

"Barely." Mac retorted, rolling her eyes. "Sour patch kids, gummie bears…"

Listening to the back and forth between her bickering friends with waning interest, Veronica spotted Logan as he joined Dick and Casey, smiling brightly when he realized he held her attention as he sent a half wave.

Watching Logan joke and laugh, her mind drifted to pleasant memories of the weekend, making her giggle as she remembered the sad attempt at a homemade Italian dinner Logan had insisted on preparing for both members of the Mars family. He had been under the assumption that the only way to gain the approval of the eldest Mars was to cook a five star meal, only to learn that it was far easier said than done.

Sadly, Logan had underestimated the complexities of creating an edible meal, learning the hard way that even something as seemingly simple as using the stove could turn into a disaster. Flames had eagerly leapt from the burners, smoke billowing throughout the small apartment. With impressive speed, Keith checked the two teenagers for any injuries before he managed to contain the small fire, coughs that sounded suspiciously like chuckles spilling from his lips. The horror written across Logan's face as the smoke alarm blared loudly in their ears was almost as priceless as the clear delight splashed across her father's face- all knowing the story would be retold for years to come; more than likely with many embellishments along the way.

After the cooking incident, Logan was quickly becoming something of a permanent fixture in the Mars household- one that Keith was rapidly learning to adjust too; the idea of the pampered teenager dating his only daughter no longer making the former sheriff cringe.

Veronica furrowed her brows as she thought of her father's unexpected acceptance of her boyfriend. The two men were quickly becoming buddies- their love of all sports and their dedication to a certain blonde creating an unspoken bond between them.

At first, she had simply attributed their newfound camaraderie to her father's excitement at having another male around the house, someone he could share testosterone ridden jokes and musings with, but after observing them interact; she wasn't so sure anymore.

Something about the way Keith never questioned Logan's lame excuses to stay longer than necessary and the slight hesitation tinged with regret whenever he was forced to make the privileged teen go home made Veronica increasingly suspicious.

She couldn't help but wonder if maybe the reason her father never seemed overly eager to send Logan back to the Echolls estate was because he knew just what twisted nightmare the teenager would be returning to.

If she thought about the entire situation, it made sense that her observant father would have figured it out- maybe even before she had. With years of law enforcement under his belt, Keith Mars had been trained to notice the smallest indicators, added in with his many experiences dealing with such cases, it would be a wonder if he hadn't realized something was seriously wrong in the Echolls household.

Even though she had tried to keep the twisted lives of the Echolls family a secret, Veronica couldn't help but be relieved at the idea of her father knowing. She wasn't naive enough to believe she could stop a powerful man like Aaron Echolls by herself; she didn't have the experience needed to handle such a case, but her father would know what to do. After all, if there was someone who could covertly take down a rich and famous movie star- it was Keith Mars, proven time and again to be a clever and resourceful ally.

As she watched Logan from across the hall, an abstract idea began to take form in her mind; a hazy plan that was slowly becoming more precise. With a determined nod of her head, Veronica resolved to talk to her father when school was over, her absolute confidence in his cleverness giving her comfort.

Sending one last smile in Logan's direction, Veronica glanced around the hall and frowned as she returned her attention to Mac and Wallace just as their debate was winding down, both agreeing to disagree.

Before Veronica could comment on the numerous glares their little trio was receiving, a perky blonde walking by caught her attention. Meg sent Veronica a self satisfied grin and winked, making the other girl laugh in delight.

Wallace frowned as he took in the conspiratorial look his best friend shared with the cheerleader. In the past two days, the two blondes had been close to inseparable, refusing to disclose what it was they spoke of during their many hushed conversations. He had lost count of the amount of times he had walked in on them with their heads together, whispering fiercely.

Curious, Wallace decided asking couldn't hurt. "What's so funny?"

With a twinke in her eye, Veronica responded. "I'll tell you when you tell me exactly when all that male bonding happened between my best friend and my boyfriend."

Wallace rolled his eyes, already exasperated with the topic. His best friend had made it her personal mission to find out how she had overlooked the burgeoning friendship between two of the most important men in her life, determined to pin point the exact moment impersonal politeness had developed into mutual respect.

Hoping to distract Veronica before she once again began to interrogatehim, Wallace glanced at Mac and bit his lip; cringing at the revenge the brunette would surely have upon him later, but desperate enough not to care at the moment. "So Mac, that was some entrance this morning."

The glare Mac sent Wallace made him wince, but he noted with satisfaction that Veronica's inquisitive gaze was no longer trained on him. Moving her attention to Mac, Veronica focused on the slight blush creeping up the brunette's cheeks.

Veronica arched an eyebrow in a silent demand for the computer savvy girl to explain. Of course she had seen had the spectacle of Mac walking into the school on Dick's arm, practically everyone had since such an unusual sight had been hard to miss, but now there was the very obvious dilemma of defining the new relationship- something the whole school seemed eager to do.

"I guess you guys kinda saw that, huh?" Mac asked lamely, hoping to stall the unavoidable questions.

Forgoing any pleasantries, Veronica immediately asked the question that had been running through her mind since Logan had pointed out her obliviousness. "Does this mean you two are officially…?" She trailed off, unwilling to label the blossoming relationship.

Shrugging, Mac couldn't seem to find the words to classify what was growing between herself and Dick, so she said the only thing that came to mind, inwardly rolling her eyes at the irony of her words. "It's a thing."

A pair of muscular arms wrapped around her waist as an amused voice spoke by her ear. "It's called a relationship."

Unable to supress the giggles at the inside joke, Mac knew that only Dick would understand why his words had evoked such a reaction. Smiling brightly as she snuggled against her boyfriend's well-sculpted chest, Mac couldn't stop herself from letting out a girly sigh.

She had always despised her classmates that acted like nothing more than lovesick schoolgirls, viewing herself as smarter than the average teenage girl, yet she couldn't stop herself from being filled with an overwhelming sense of giddiness everytime he was near. Her only consolation was the fact that Veronica seemed to be having the exact same problem with Logan, his arms wrapped possessively around her waist as he murmured what could only be playful teasing judging by the chuckles coming from Wallace and the reluctant uptilt of Veronica's lips.

"Uh-oh." Wallace grimaced, all amusement abruptly falling from his face. The two couples followed his gaze and cringed, waiting for what was sure to be a heated encounter.

Madison strutted past the tense group, not even sparing them a second glance as she smiled brightly at her best friend Shelley. She huffed lowly as she watched their reactions from the corner of her eye. Each had shock spashed across their faces, mouths gaping open at her seeming indifference to them. Obviously, they had all assumed she would be more than willing to make a spectacle of herself by confronting them.

Honestly, the idea had crossed her mind on more than one occasion, but was it really that hard to believe she had more dignity than storming up to the couple in question and furiously berating them?

Realizing the answer to her silent question, she conceded revenge would have been her main priority had she not had such a thoroughly enjoyable weekend learning the joys of moving on with someone so unlike herself.

Dick watched with guarded eyes as Madison strolled down the hall; unable to believe the malicious girl had just walked past him and Mac without even so much as a glare. Looking down at the speechless brunette in his arms, he saw that she was just as shocked that they had gotten through the whole incident unscathed.

Veronica voiced the question that was running through all their minds. "What just happened?"

"No clue." Logan answered truthfully, furrowing his brow at the unprecedented course the morning was taking.

"Man, everything's weird today." Dick commented, the relief in his tone evident to anyone listening. Feeling a bit dazed, he began to list off the odd happenings in Neptune that morning. "First that whole law suit against the Sheriff's department being announced, then the mysterious Vandergraff thing, and now Madison's become…tolerant."

Everyone smiled at the causal omission of the strangeness that summed up their own lives of late.

"What about Vandergraff?" Logan asked, his interest piqued with the careless mention of his nemesis; his mind already dismissing everything else theblonde boy had mentioned.

"Dude, you didn't hear?" Dick asked, surprised no one had informed his friend considering Logan's hatred for Vandergraff was common knowledge. "His parents shipped him off, no one knows why or where they sent him."

"Apparently they didn't approve of some of his choices…or of Shauna." Veronica informed the small group, muttering the last part softly under her breath as she smirked at the thought of Troy's fate. "I heard he got sent to boot camp."

"How would you know that?" Logan asked, his lips tilting up slightly, knowing the twinkle in her eyes meant she was more than pleased with herself- for what he wasn't sure yet.

"From around." Veronica stated evasively, enjoying the thrill she always got when she knew something no one else did- a trait it seemed she had inherited from the late Lilly Kane after her untimely demise.

At his dubious look, she grinned mysteriously.

"Am I ever going to know your secrets?" Logan asked, his words holding a more serious tone than he had originally intended. Once the words were out of his mouth, he realized he didn't want to take them back. It was a question that had been on the tip of his tongue for some time, but the fear of her answer had always held him back.

Veronica frowned at all the unspoken words left hanging between them. All the issues they had yet to deal with were still laying beneath the surface, waiting for the moment they would be released.

It had been so long since she had even considered trusting someone with the many secrets that had accumulated over the past year, but for the first time in what seemed like a really long time, she allowed herself to hope that things could turn out for the better and maybe, someday, she would feel at ease enough to share her inner most secrets. Entwining her fingers with his, Veronica smiled softly. "Maybe…oneday."

In an instant a brilliant smile appeared on Logan's face, amazement shining in his eyes. The sentiment behind her words making his heart beat in a rapid succession. Her acknowledgement of a future together was more than he had dared hope for. In all honesty, he had resigned himself to not even receiving a response, but even in his wildest dreams he had never expected such an optimistic answer to the sobering question.

The world seemed to melt away as they gazed into each others eyes, shy smiles gracing their lips.

Their heartfelt moment was cut short though, when they both sensed the sudden shift in the mood around them. No longer was the hall alive with suppressed excitement, but the air had gone stale with apparent dread. A hush had fallen over the crowds as the livid boy stalked closer to the now alert couple, cold brown eyes burning with fury as he took in their comfortable embrace.

Students gathered around in clumps of confused teenagers, all hoping to gain insight into the strange happenings before they were forced to choose sides in what was fast becoming a battle of wills between the once inseparable friends.

The new attitude of the once apathetic boy was more than a little startling. After nearly a year of little or no reaction to the world around him, no one had expected Duncan to come out of his daze with such fury. The fact that his rage was directed at his long time best friend, someone widely considered closer than a brother to him, was baffling.

No one was sure what was expected of them, so they waited for their leader to indicate what their next actions should be. Aware the rest of the student body was waiting for him to guid them in how to react, Logan calmly kept a watchful eye on the other boy, letting out the breath he had been holding when Duncan made no attempt to come closer.

Aiming a venomous glare at Logan, the Kane heir moved his attention to his first love, sending her a look of longing before flinging open his locker and yanking out his books. Logan winced as his eyes once again clashed with the cold, hostile ones of his oldest friend, the warmth he had once been accustomed to seeing in the other boy long ago was now completely absent.

Veronica sighed tiredly as she watched Duncan slam his locker shut before storming down the hall, shoving unsuspecting students out of his way. A collective sigh of relief could be heard as the once golden boy of Neptune disappeared into a nearby crowd.

Even though she had been prepared for his anger, Veronica hadn't anticipated such bitterness on Duncan's face when he looked at Logan, nor had she expected the yearning she had seen when he had fixed his hard eyes on her. She gave a small shudder at the thought of what Duncan would do next, his anger making him irrational and dangerous.

Taking a deep breath, she noticed the slight tremble of the hand that was clasped tightly in her own delicate one. "Hey, you ok?"

Duncan, the only true friend he had even known, wouldn't talk to him and most likely was in the process of plotting the demise of his old friend, probably concocting the most agonizing way to dispose of him. Shaking his head, Logan answered truthfully, the lump in his throat making it hard to speak. "No…"

Logan frowned, even though he had finally managed to break Duncan out of his zombie like haze, he still didn't have his best friend back. Instead, in place of the boyhood friend Logan had always cherished, he was left with an enraged and bitter shell of boy he thought of as a brother.

Vowing to make things right with his best friend, Logan whispered resolutely. "It will be though."

He didn't know how he would get their friendship back yet, but he was determined he would find a way. After all, he was Logan Echolls, and that meant he could accomplish anything he set his mind to- especially if he had Veronica Mars on his side. They were a force to be reckoned with- and if the world was smart, it would brace itself.

"Yeah, it will." Veronica said seriously as she pulled him into a tight hug. "We can handle this."

He looked down into the sincere eyes of his girlfriend and smiled, his heart bursting with joy at the knowledge that he wasn't in this alone. Logan leaned down, brushing his lips tenderly against Veronica's soft and accepting lips.

Ignoring the affectionate couple infront of him, Dick tiredly rubbed his temples. "Anyone feel like getting out of here?" He asked, already exhausted by the dramatic morning.

Nodding in agreement, Wallace supplied. "I hear dog beach is nice this time of morning."

Knowing her parents would be upset at the idea of her skipping school to go to the beach, Mac bit her lip hesitantly. She honestly didn't think she had the energy to spend the whole day dealing with everyone's reactions. Tomorrow she knew they would all be forced to face the world head on, but today all she wanted to do was sit on a nice beach and watch the waves crash while she was surrounded by her friends.

Decision made, Mac voiced her opinion. "What are we waiting for?" Eager to escape the prying eyes of their classmates, she grabbed Dick's hand and pulled excitedly. "Let's go!"

Dick laughed wholeheartedly, arm wrapped securely around his girlfriend's shoulders as he introduced himself to the boy he recognised as Veronica's best friend.

As Logan followed the happily chattering trio out of the building with Veronica pressed close to his side, her arms wrapped comfortably around his waist, he couldn't help but think that maybe Duncan wasn't the only one who had needed to be rescued.

The End