AN: Well, I'm back, with a sequel to I Was Here, which was the sequel to Drops of Jupiter. I'm trying something a little different with this one, I'm adding some PI work, and a mystery of sorts. I've also gone back to focusing on LoVe. Hope you all enjoy it!

Detailed summary: It's 2038, in Neptune, California, and things have been peaceful for quite some years. This has mainly been due to Keith Mars being a very skilful Sheriff, and his daughter Veronica Echolls, running a very successful private investigating business. Their law enforcement skills of course haven't stopped the usual scandals of the rich and famous occurring.

It's now the beginning of September, and Veronica's eldest daughter, Aubrey Echolls, is about to start her first year of high school at Neptune High, and thing are about to change for everyone.

"Being a part of something special, makes you special." – Lea Michele

Chapter 1

"Violet, get out of the bathroom!" Aubrey yelled at her younger sister. "Caroline is picking me up for school in fifteen minutes and I can't be late!"

"Just wait, Aubrey Echolls. What's the big deal anyway? You've been late before," twelve, almost thirteen year old Violet retorted through the locked bathroom door.

Violet and Aubrey shared a bathroom in their home in Neptune.

"It's my first day of high school, so I can't be late!" Aubrey cried. She banged on the door and yelled, "Hurry up!"

"Shut up Aub," Oliver ordered, walking past Aubrey with his hands over his ears.

"You shut up, Ollie," fifteen year old Aubrey maturely retorted.

At this point Veronica decided it was time to intervene in her children's war. It always went that way on the first day of September, the kids went nuts.

"Aubrey, dear, just calm down. You won't be late, especially as I'm driving you to school," Veronica said calmly. "And Violet, hurry up, you'll be late, and in trouble, if you don't get out of that bathroom."

"But Mom," Aubrey protested, "I've already worked it all out with Caroline, she's picking me up."

"No, she's actually not. Aunt Mac and I've worked everything out and I'm taking you to your first day at Neptune High. There will be plenty of opportunities to drive to school with Caroline, plenty," Veronica informed Aubrey, her tone implying that the discussion was closed.

"Okay Mom," Aubrey agreed in a resigned tone, then dashed into the bathroom as Violet stepped out of it.

"Violet, that wasn't very nice," Veronica lightly reprimanded her.

Violet merely grinned back with the mischievous grin she shared with her father. She also had inherited Logan's light brown hair, but had Veronica's light blue eyes. She was a very pretty girl, as was Aubrey.

"Go on, go finish getting ready, your father will take you and the boys to school," Veronica informed her.

Violet accordingly went into her room to finish getting her things together.

"Tom, are you ready yet?" Veronica called, as she approached her youngest son's room.

She walked into his room and found him playing on his floor with a favourite toy, and not in the slightest bit ready.

"Thomas Logan Echolls, what do you think you're doing?" Veronica demanded of her nine, almost ten year old. He was eleven months younger than Oliver, he was their surprise baby.

Tom looked up guiltily at his mother. "Hi Mommy," he said warily.

"Leave your toys there, there's no time to pack them up now. You've got to get ready, and quick," Veronica ordered him. "I thought I left Daddy to help you get ready. Where is he?"

"I think he's downstairs watching the TV," Tom supplied.

"Right, you get ready, and be downstairs in five minutes. Dad will be waiting for you," Veronica told him sternly, and with that she left his room, in search of her husband.

"Logan Echolls, you were supposed to help our son get ready for school," Veronica said in frustration, when she found him at the TV.

"Which one?" Logan asked impertinently.

"Tom," Veronica answered. "You're usually so much better than this at helping me with them. What's the matter?"

"I guess I've been too busy thinking about our little girl starting high school, and at Neptune High of all places," Logan answered slowly.

"Neptune's no where near as bad as it was in our day," Veronica countered.

"Yeah, but teenage boys are still teenage boys," Logan said succinctly.

Veronica smothered a grin and said, "Well, how about you not worry about that for now. We've raised her well, and we have other kids to look after too."

"You're right, I'm sorry," Logan said.

"Ah, music to my ears. I'll never get tired of hearing you say that," Veronica said with satisfaction and a broad grin. "Now, Violet, Ollie and Tom will all be down here soon for you to take them to school."

"The middle school for Vi, and the elementary school for the boys," Logan said in clarification.

"Yep, and I'll take Aub to Neptune High on my way to work," Veronica said.

"Want to have lunch today?" Logan asked. "I'm working at home today."

"Pick me up at 12, and we'd better be having Italian," Veronica answered.

With that she disappeared into the kitchen to make sure that all was right there.

When Violet had been born, Veronica let Logan hire permanent part-time help. By the time they had four children and they both still worked, Veronica was very glad she'd relented on the matter of hired help. Veronica still liked to take care of some of her house work, even though they were very wealthy she still liked to do a bit of the household chores, it brought more normalcy to their lives, and she wanted her children to know how to help around the house.

"Kids, it's time to go!" Veronica yelled up the stairs. "Boys and Violet to the Mercedes with your father, and Aubrey we're taking the Audi."

It might be thought that an Audi would be a conspicuous car for Veronica to drive, as a private investigator, but everyone knew her anyway, no matter what car she drove. Driving an average car would've made her stick out more, so she drove her Audi to work, most of the time. There were occasions when she needed a less precocious car, and then she took their black BWM.

The three younger children trooped out the door and into Logan's car with him, and Aubrey and her mother walked more sedately towards the Audi.

Aubrey was slight like her mother, but not quite as short, for which she was rather grateful. Her hair was as blonde as her mother's though, and they were both wearing their hair long currently.

"So, are you excited?" Veronica asked. She didn't really need to ask, she could tell from Aubrey's body language that she was excited, but it was better to ask.

"Yeah, and a little bit nervous I guess. At least Caroline will be there, and she's told me so much about what high school is like. She's not in my class though," Aubrey answered.

"But Justin is," Veronica reminded her. "Uncle Wallace and I think it's kind of cute, our babies starting high school together."

"We'll be an interesting addition to the 09er group," Aubrey remarked. "I know Justin isn't actually an 09er, but it's not like Caroline and I are going to let him get left out. He's always been one of us."

"I'm glad to hear you say that," Veronica said seriously. "I know you've been an 09er all your life, but we've raised you to care about people. Things can become rather fierce, socially, in high school, especially in Neptune, so you will need to keep making sure you're careful with your friendships."

"Yes Mom, I'll do my best," Aubrey replied.

"I know you will," Veronica said fondly. "So, are you going out for the pep squad or cheerleading?"

"Will it be okay with you, if I do?" Aubrey asked. She had heard many tales of her mother in high school, and she didn't want to let her down.

"Goodness no, I was on pep squad, Aunt Lily was the cheerleading captain her senior year, I know Caroline is on the cheerleading team. If you want to, then you should. All that matters to me is that you're happy, that your grades are good, and like I said before, that you treat people well," Veronica told her.

"Thanks Mom," Aubrey said, as they pulled up out the front of Neptune High. "I'll see you at home tonight!"

"This afternoon, I'm coming home early, first day of school and all. And I'm going to ask you all about your day," Veronica told her. "Have a good day sweetie!"

Veronica pulled out from the curb and continued onto her office. She didn't use her father's old office, it would've been nice for sentimental value, but when the time came for her to find somewhere it was leased to someone else. So she had rented something, and in a slightly nicer part of town. Later on Logan had bought a large office building, as an investment, and Veronica used a section of it for her business.

The building was a nice, sophisticated, clean, light and bright. Veronica liked that, it contrasted the generally dark and sinister nature of her work.

Once at the office building she took the elevator up to her rooms. She just had a reception room and a an office for herself.

"Good morning Lucy," Veronica greeted her part-time receptionist.

"Good morning Mrs Echolls, I mean, Veronica," Lucy returned. Lucy hadn't been working for Veronica long and still tended to slip into formality, formality that Veronica had told her was absolutely not necessary.

"Any messages?" Veronica asked.

"No, nothing yet," Lucy replied. "Busy morning with the kids?"

"I'll say," Veronica said firmly. "Well, I'll be in my office."

Veronica walked into her office, set her briefcase down and set up her laptop. As she settled into her chair the looked around her office walls and at her desk. On her desk there was just one family photo, it was from Christmas the year before. Her children's smiling faces looked out at her from the frame, and she could see the love in Logan's eyes. Her own face looked light and happy, there was no trace of bitterness on it.

On the walls there were various photos of her children, and a large group photo of the Kanes, Fennels, Casablancas and Echolls from the 4th of July just passed. They all looked tanned, happy and healthy. The size of their families had increased substantially since Lily graduated high school just over fourteen years ago.

Wallace and Amanda's second child, a little girl who they named Dakota Blair was born the summer after Lily graduation high school. Two years after that Amanda had had twins who were named Tyler Clark and Jasmine Ruby. Jasmine and Tyler were the same age as Duncan and Eva's first child, Carter Jacob. Their second child, a little girl, named Honey Faith, was born two years later. Lily was ecstatic over their births, and simply doted on her younger half siblings.

Lily and Liam had survived college together, and had married the summer after they graduated. They had their own children now, a four year old boy, Dylan Jack, and a little girl, who was two years old, named Maegan Ivy. Dick, Mac and their children were standing next to Lily and Liam in the photo, with their three children. Dick and Mac had had only one more child after Caroline and James, a girl, named Aurora Ellie. Aurora was the same age as Logan and Veronica's son Oliver.

Veronica looked fondly at the collection of children, and was very glad she was not their school teachers. They were all very good friends, and liked to get up to mischief together. It was always amusing, watching an outsider trying to get their names and ages straight. Even Veronica had trouble from time to time, and that was saying something.

Caroline was sixteen, and the eldest. Justin was about to turn sixteen, but was in the same grade at school as Aubrey who was fifteen. Next came James Casablancas and Dakota Fennel, both fourteen and they had just started their last year of junior high. Veronica and Logan's Violet came next at age twelve. Carter Kane, and Tyler and Jasmine Fennel were all eleven, almost twelve, and Aurora Casablancas and Oliver Echolls were ten, turning eleven. Honey Kane was just ten, and Tom the youngest, was nine, almost ten.

Veronica's head was spinning from sorting out the various names and ages. She laughed quietly to herself, imaging the effort her father went to in keeping all their names and ages straight.

"He probably has a big file with all their details in it," Veronica mused quietly. "Goodness knows I could use one. The scrapbook Lily made for me for my 50th birthday works just as well, I suppose."

Veronica had turned fifty the summer the year before, and it had been a big event, much to Veronica's chagrin. Veronica didn't feel fifty, she felt much younger, which was largely due to her young children. She and Logan had started having children fairly late in life, but when they did, they chose not to let their ages play a factor in planning their family. And it had not been a mistake.

The scrapbook was proof enough of that. It was filled with memories, and many of the photos were actually taken by Veronica, Lily had subtly obtained digital copies, created the scrapbook, and surprised Veronica with it.

At that moment Veronica stopped her pleasant reminiscing, there would be time for it later. She had work to do.

She opened up the files on the current cases she was working on and began to prioritise her plans for the day. Veronica's work varied a bit from the style of work Keith had done at Mars Investigations. She was more highly trained than him, and was never short of people wanting her to take difficult cases. So there were no bail jumpers for Veronica to track down, that would keep her away from home. Similarly Veronica tried not to take cases that kept her from home for more than one night.

She still ran background checks, and did the occasional stakeout to chase up cheating spouses. She tended to focus more on working in corporate security, and corporate espionage. Logan preferred that, he saw it with less dangerous, and Veronica was happy to comply with that. Her career with the FBI and Secret Service had provided her with more than enough excitement to last a life time, not to mention her colourful high school career.

Veronica checked her emails, and found one from a client, wanting to know how his case was progressing. Veronica picked up the phone to call him.

"Good morning Mr Connors…Yes, I received your email, that's why I'm calling. I haven't anything concrete yet on whether or not Mr Gibson is embezzling funds, but I'll keep you updated. It shouldn't be too long before I have more information for you…Yes, you have a good day too, goodbye," Veronica said.

She hung up the phone, then looked longingly at the clock. She'd taken most of the summer off, only working a few days a fortnight. Being back at work, and for what was for all purposes, full time, felt a little slow. At least it was Wednesday, the week was already half over. Forty-five minutes and Logan would be picking her up for lunch, she couldn't wait.

Meanwhile back in the 09er zipcode, Mac and Dick were in their house on the beach. It was strangely silent, compared to the noise that had filled it all summer long.

"Dick! Where are you?" Mac called from her office.

"Out the back Mackie!" Dick called.

Mac walked out and found him, reading some paperwork for his business.

"I have to go down to Echolls Investigations, I need to go over some details for a case I've been working on for Veronica," Mac told him. Veronica hadn't been able to use the same building that her father had, but she had named her business after his.

"Sure thing babe. Want to bring me a pizza on your way back?" Dick asked hopefully.

"I'll get you a steak or something," Mac replied. She moved to leave, then paused. "It's funny. The kids run around this place all summer, often there's at least one extra, and I want to tear my hair out. But now they're gone, I really miss them."

"I miss them too Mac," Dick agreed. "But they'll be home again this afternoon, and you'll be wanting to tear your hair out again. Plus, Caroline doesn't really run around anymore. She and Aubrey tend to lie out on the beach, giggling about God knows what."

Dick looked serious and thoughtful.

"What?" Mac prompted.

"I think it's about time Logan and I had another chat with them. It's probably been a year since the last one," Dick said, not joking in the slightest.

Mac smothered a smirk. She and Veronica thought their husbands were hilarious, and completely overprotective when it came to their daughters, but let them be anyway. At least their girls would be looked after, and it kept Logan and Dick happy to give their 'Boys are all evil' lecture.

"Well, I'm going to go now," Mac said, but Dick wasn't really listening anymore.

"Yes, and I think Violet and Aurora can get the more detailed lecture this year. I'm sure Logan will agree. Maybe DK will want to help, and bring Honey along," Dick said musingly, and mainly to himself.

"Yes dear, perhaps you could go on the road and give the lecture to teenage girls everywhere," Mac said dryly.

"Nah, they're some other dad's problem," Dick said serenely. "See you later babe."

A couple of streets over Logan was also getting ready to make his way to Echolls Investigations, but before he left he was working on part of a manuscript. He was changing one of his books from prose, to a screenplay. Several other of his books had been made into movies, and Logan insisted that he be the one to write the screenplay. If he didn't, there was no deal. He didn't want anyone butchering his work.

Logan had also helped direct a couple of his books that had become movies, and had even had a few minor acting roles. The roles he took were to help give a name to small projects that he believed worthwhile, for Logan Echolls was still a big name and a powerful face in Hollywood. He didn't necessarily like it all the time, but it was what it was, and in general, Logan loved his life. Especially his family and things not pertaining to Hollywood.

He read over his last few pages with satisfaction and saved the document. He was going to enjoy when he'd finished, but the real reward was watching his books on the big screen. He also generally negotiated that he help with the casting for his books that became movies, it helped to ensure that he was disappointed with the final product.

Logan left his office, grabbed a jacket, his wallet and keys, and went outside into the crisp air of the first day of fall. There was nothing quite like a lunch break with his wife.

AN: Thanks for reading! I'd love to know what you all think :) The mystery part of the story will be introduced in the next chapter, just as a by the way.

I'll also just add a little note about timing, to limit any confusion for anyone.

Veronica is 51 now, weird, I know, but she was born in 1987, and it's 2038, which makes her 51 :(

It really does seem weird to me, her being 51, but she didn't come back to Neptune until 2020, and she was 33 then. She married Logan in 2022, so she was 35, and she was 36 when she had Aubrey, so they started their family late, as did the others. Career women tend to start their families later these days, which makes them relatively old (so to speak), by the time their children are in their teens. I still think of Veronica as like 30, so I guess she and Logan will be a very young 50! Hope all the made sense!

Also, I know there are a lot of names to remember, so I might include a list of names and ages etc, if you guys want.

Please review :) If I get enough reviews I'll post the next chapter tomorrow!