EPILOGUE – Three months later

Logan was sure this was a dumb idea. Three times he almost turned around and went back to the rental place. Romantic gesture, he scoffed. He couldn't even spell romantic gesture, but that's what Veronica asked him for and he never could say no to her.

He pulled into the driveway and studied the house. It was the first time in his life he looked forward to going home, being home and it had very little to do with the building. What he told Veronica last year was the truth- he would live in a box if she and Wyatt were there; he'd certainly lived in worse places. Man up Echolls and do this thing.

Reluctantly he got out of the car and approached the porch. Shit this was almost as bad as that dinner at her dad's house. He looked back at the car. Dumb fuck. She was going to hate this. Maybe I should cancel the whole thing?

He flew fighter jets during a war for crissakes and the idea of tonight and one tiny blonde scared the shit out of him. Logan sighed. Things were perfect the way they were, he didn't need anything else. He went to bed every night with Veronica by his side and slept soundly knowing she would still be there in the morning. He was content. His mind tripped back to their conversation when she was pregnant, but it's not enough for me Logan, I want this. There were those two little words again, "for me." Well he was about to make a jackass out of himself for her. That's a permanent condition for you- jackass.

He let himself into the house. His internal Veronica radar led him straight to her. She was in their room feeding Wyatt. He leaned in the doorway. There was no need to say anything, she knew he was there. "We're almost done."

"Take your time, just enjoying the view."

"Dad and Dottie should be here any minute." Logan frowned. This was the first time they were leaving Wyatt overnight. "She's going to be fine."

"Get out of my head Veronica, it's a scary place." He almost added right now, but that would be a lie, his head was a scary place most of the time.

"Eh, I've been in there plenty of times, it's not so bad, it could use a woman's touch though," she smiled.

She'd spent the better part of a month on a journey through his head by reading his journal. When he gave it to her, she refused to read it, but he could see her eyes shimmer with curiosity. 'I don't need to know,' is what she said to him, which for Veronica was akin to a miracle, but he needed her to know. If they were going to build a life together, raise a child together, he needed her to understand those dark places in his head. "You're not planning on putting any girly curtains in there are you?"

"They're called window treatments and maybe a nice area rug and some throw pillows too?" She held out the baby for him, "take her while I get dressed."

"Oh you're not going like that?"

"Isn't getting me naked part of the fun?"

"Yes, but since you're halfway there…maybe we could just skip to the next part? I can call your dad to cancel."

"Nope, you owe me a date Echolls." Part of him was surprised that something hadn't gone wrong yet. This was usually the point in their evening where she found out something terrible about him and either stood him up (yacht) or broke up with him (Madison). Although he supposed there was nothing left about him that she didn't already know.

Logan took the baby from her. Burying his face in her neck, he found her ticklish spot and made num, num, num noises; eliciting a delighted squeal and giggles from Wyatt. He grinned. Nibbling her neck and running his finger along the arches of her feet were surefire ways to get her to laugh and he loved listening to her laugh; almost as much as he loved the da, da, da noises she was starting to make.

"Don't get her all worked up or she's not going to go to sleep," Veronica called from the bathroom.

"Too late; right, jellybean?" He put her in the center of the bed and tickled her feet, receiving more giggles. "Besides your dad and Dottie would be terribly disappointed if she was sleeping when they got here."

"That's true."

Logan glanced up at her and his mouth parted. "Wow, that's some dress." She did a slow turn for him and the black circle skirt twirled around her knees. Its sleeves were lace as was the entire midriff and the back dipped into a low "v" exposing skin that was too hard for him to resist touching. He trailed his finger down the edge of the lace to the small of her back, "are you sure we need to go anywhere?"

"You're taking me out," she slipped on her heels, "are you just trying to wheedle out of this date because you didn't make any actual plans?"

He smirked, "my plans do tend to go awry." Logan lifted her hair from the nape of her neck and planted tiny kisses down her spine.

"Logan." It was soft and longing and he smiled against her skin. All he needed was a few more minutes and he could convince her that their night on the town was better spent right here in their bedroom. He slid his hand around her waist, pulling her closer and his mouth closed over that spot on her neck he loved. "New perfume?" She nodded. The perfume smelled like citrus and apples and cedar, but the underlying notes were all Veronica. Now if I could bottle that fragrance…he shook his head…no… that scent is all mine. The doorbell rang and he sighed, "see? Plans- awry."

"That wasn't a plan; that was you trying to get out of our date." She peeled his fingers from her waist and went to answer the door. He picked up Wyatt, cradled her in the crook of his arm and followed Veronica to the living room.

"There she is," Keith held out his arms for his granddaughter and Logan passed him the baby. "Who's your grandpa?"

Dottie chuckled, "you kids should probably just go now. He's not going to notice anything else, including me, for the rest of the night."

Keith smiled, "she'll go to sleep eventually."

They were a good fit, Dottie and Keith; they seemed to make each other happy, but them dating made him…uneasy. He was still trying to convince Keith he was… worthy...of Veronica and he didn't want anything to mess that up like a bad ending to their relationship because of him. Logan knew Dottie was very vocal in her defense of him and had already gone a few rounds with Keith over it and…

Veronica put her hand on his arm, cutting off his thoughts, "ready?"

No. His eyes wandered over her; she really did look amazing. "Does that dress have a jacket?"

"Is this the same man who was trying to get me to wear less clothing just a few minutes ago?" It was said soft enough for his ears only, but he still swiveled his head in Keith's direction to make sure it went unheard by him. Veronica grinned at his reaction. "I'll get my wrap and meet you on the porch."

Logan kissed Wyatt goodbye, gave Dottie a quick hug and a nod to Keith before heading outside. He leaned against the SUV to wait. When Veronica walked onto the porch and spotted the yellow X-terra, her steps slowed. "It's not a DeLorean, but I suddenly feel like Marty McFly."

"You're prettier." Her feet remained firmly planted on the top step. She doesn't look happy. Logan tried thinking of something…meaningful…to say only to end up waggling his eyebrows suggestively and telling her, "it has a roomy backseat."

One corner of her mouth lifted in that impish half-smile he found incredibly sexy and amusement made her eyes sparkle. Logan pulled open the passenger door and she finally left the porch. "Are you going to take me parking?"

"The thought crossed my mind." He shut the door behind her and circled around to the driver's seat, "hey Veronica." A soft hmm, "I love you."

"The things guys will say to get past second base." It was a wider smile now and Logan felt the knot of tension in his gut loosen. "Hey pretty-boy jerk," she took his hand, "I love you too." Way better than the first time I said it.

Dinner was at the soccer field where they met. Mac took care of the linen-covered table for two, the candles and the flowers he requested. Dick provided a waiter and the food; Italian, her favorite. Logan held out her chair. Once she was seated, he took her wrap and draped it around her shoulders before leaning in for a kiss; an innocent, tender kiss that lasted mere seconds. "Even without the knee socks and shorts; still perfect… although you are working it in that dress."

She tilted her head and smiled. "No plans, huh?"

"You said that; I said they go awry as in end badly." Trying to surprise her was next to impossible. Even off her game, she ferreted out information and deciphered clues better than Sherlock Holmes. He planned everything while he was on base, made sure all the calls went through Dottie, enlisted Trina's help to keep Veronica distracted and he still wasn't sure he pulled it off. Not that she will ever tell me she knew. "I wonder where we'd be if I hadn't stepped aside and let Duncan have you."

"Have me?" He gave her a solemn nod, but couldn't stop the smile. It was fun to get her all riled and push her buttons. Easy too. "Certainly not here."

"Like you would be able to withstand my charm," he scoffed and she frowned at him. "Come on Veronica, you know you find me irresistible."

"Sometimes." Her gaze moved over the candle stands and she fingered the petals of the yellow roses. "Like now."

They started with porcini risotto and moved on to manicotti…of course…gorgonzola, fig and pancetta pizza and for dessert, black pepper raspberry sorbet with Prosecco. Halfway through his meal he stopped eating just to watch her. The tiny little sounds she made with the first bite of each dish, the way she licked the sauce from the corner of her mouth with just the tip of her tongue and how she sucked the sorbet off her finger; Logan committed each detail to memory. Sometimes when he thought about where he was when she left him compared to now it left him speechless. "Ready for a little exercise?"

She batted her eyes at him, "backseat time?" Her stockinged toes found their way under the cuff of his pants and stroked his calf.

"Not yet, but I do have plans to touch you."

"That sounds…promising."

He held out his hand for her and then couldn't resist pulling her into his arms for an altogether different kind of kiss. Maybe it is time for the backseat. The raspberry sorbet and Prosecco tasted way better this way than from his spoon. His hands slid lower and cupped her ass as he molded her body to his. Kissing Veronica was an…experience; the feel of her beneath his hands, her tongue in his mouth, the breathy moans deep in the back of her throat, turned him on like nothing else. It took every ounce of his recently acquired self-control to pull away. "That was definitely not part of tonight's program."

"Be spontaneous Echolls, live a little." Her mouth found his again and he staggered back toward the bleachers. Pulling her down with him, she straddled his waist and buried her fingers in his hair. If they didn't stop he was going to make love to her here in the stands. His body cheered at the idea. She tightened her legs around him, grinding their hips together.

Logan smirked, "if only you felt this spontaneous back at the house, we could've saved time."

"But then I would've missed the manicotti."

"Pasta, the new aphrodisiac…they should put that on the box." He lifted her off his lap and fixed her wrap. There was nothing he could do about her hair. The delicate combs she'd used to hold up the sides were slipping and she looked…tousled and inviting. Logan groaned. "Go stand over there for a minute."

A teasing pout, "don't wanna."

"Veronica," it was a desperate growl, which made her grin. She practically skipped toward the X-terra making her ass sway way too seductively for his comfort. He forced himself to look away and think of something disgusting like Dick and his stash of kitchen porn. After a fast glance to confirm that she was safely tucked in the car, he stood. Their next stop was going to kill him with all the touching.

Logan climbed into the SUV and kept his head straight, eyes focused on the road. A little chuckle from Veronica said she knew he was having difficulty not pulling her into the backseat and ending their night right here. "This is fun."

His mind started conjuring up ways to make her pay for that remark, but it didn't exactly help with the great restraint he was exercising. "Wench." Another laugh from her.

They pulled into the parking lot of Neptune High. Wallace had good-naturedly complained about losing his job, but gave him the keys anyway. Logan pulled them out of the glove box and circled the car to open her door. "Keys? I could've just picked the lock for you."

"Jail is not where I want tonight to end, but handcuffs…that's an entirely different story."

"You really do say the sweetest things." They held hands on their way through the building, but when they got close to the gym doors he covered her eyes. "No blindfold?"

"Maybe later," he whispered the words close to her ear and then nipped her earlobe before kissing down her neck and sucking at the sensitive spot above her collarbone.

He walked her through the doors and removed his hands from her eyes. Tiny strands of white lights were strung across the ceiling and pedestals of lavender roses created a small dance floor in the center of the room. A black grand piano was just beyond the flowers and when he led her onto the floor, the pianist took his seat at the bench. "Let me guess I've Had the Time of My Life?"

Logan smiled, "no that implies it's over and we're just getting started." He wrapped his arms around her waist and the pianist started to play John Legend's All of Me. "Our first dance didn't quite end the way I wanted it to."

She rested her head on his chest and murmured, "me neither."

Forever. He could literally stay like this for eternity with her nestled in his arms. Now all I have to do is get through the night without fucking it up. Logan kissed the top of her head, "all of me does love all of you."

"I love you too." Her hands traveled under his dinner jacket and caressed his back. "You know you didn't have to go to all this trouble; I'm a sure thing."

"Maybe, but you're worth it." He gripped her tighter. Logan wished there were words to explain to her what she truly meant to him. Love just seemed insufficient. She resided in every inch of him; his heart, his mind, his soul. The threads of her were so intimately woven through him, he didn't know where she ended and he began.

When the last strains of music faded, he cupped her face and kissed her. He tried to tell her with his mouth and his hands exactly how he was feeling in this moment. Veronica placed her hand on his cheek; her eyes were glossy and a soft smile teased the edges of her lips. "Much better ending than the first time."

Logan kissed her nose, "we have one more stop." It took a long time for them to get back to the X-terra. First she grabbed his lapels and pulled him down for an impromptu makeout session in the halls and when they reached the steps it was his turn. Logan lifted her up, put her in the passenger seat and then fastened the seatbelt around her, "precious cargo."

It took less time to reach the Camelot than it took them to traverse the parking lot at the high school. He was afraid to get out of the car. What if she says no? He would take her anyway he could get her. If she didn't want to marry him, he could live with it as long as he got to live with her. "You're thinking too much Echolls. Get out of the car."

He did as she suggested. Red roses waited on the balcony outside room 226; their room. Logan opened the trunk and took out what he wanted. He kept it low and pressed to his leg so she wouldn't see it. Veronica tried to peer around his body and he smiled. "No peeking Mars." Once she started walking up the stairs and was in front of him, he moved it behind his back. She kept glancing behind her, attempting to look over his shoulder. He shook his head, "if you want it; you need to behave."

"Is it a pony?"

"Shit, I knew I forgot something." At the landing, he kissed her forehead. "Hold out your hand." Veronica did as he asked and he put it in her waiting hand.

"A crowbar?" It was resting in her open palm. She wasn't looking at it, she was staring at him.

Logan dragged a hand through his hair, "it's not just a crowbar. It's us, old and new, past and present."

Tears gathered in the corners of her eyes and she dropped her gaze. Pretty sure, you're not supposed to make them cry, Echolls. He tilted his head back to stare at the awning. Fuck up. A tiny gasp from Veronica brought his eyes back to her face. She was gripping the crowbar, but her fingers were toying with the ring tied around its forked end. He took both from her hands. Holding up the crowbar he said, "old," then he held up the ring, "new." Logan got down on his knees. Again he held up the crowbar, "jackass," the ring, "man who wants to marry you."

The tears were streaming down her face now. He pressed on, "I love you Veronica. Our history is…tangled; friends, mortal enemies, lovers, but I know what my life is like without you and I never want to go through that again. I want us…" Deep breath, "will you marry me?"

It's taking too long. Logan's head felt like it was going to explode and she still wasn't saying anything. Next time maybe you should dispense with the crowbar Echolls. , He started to rise. Next time? Yeah, right. One chance and I blew it. Before he could get up, Veronica dropped to her knees in front of him, "yes."

Relief washed through him followed by an intense feeling of joy. Veronica Mars is going to marry me; lucky bastard. He held out the ring, "if you don't like it we…"

"Are you just going to talk, talk, talk or are you going to put that baby on my finger?"

He grinned. It was an antique platinum setting with delicate filigree and a new round cut diamond. "There's an inscription."

Veronica swiped at her face smearing her mascara. Her eyes were round and soft and luminous. Breathtaking. She read the inscription, looked up at him and repeated the promise, "always." His hands trembled as he slipped it on her finger, almost dropping it. She laughed. "You're such a girl Echolls," it was her soft, teasing I-love-you voice. Logan gathered her in his arms and stood. She was staring at the ring, tilting her hand back and forth. He almost asked, who's the girl now, but he remained silent just enjoying the moment. As he started to carry her toward the car, she put her hand on his chest. "Hey, don't forget my crowbar," a big grin, "it might come in handy."