What follows are brief moments from the years that Logan and Veronica's anniversary, July 26, falls on the Thursday of Pony Penning Week. There's a lot of missing time in between – I didn't realize until I was putting this together just how long the stretch between Thursday, July 26's can be – each vignette is separated by five, six, or eleven years. I hope you enjoy…

Thursday, July 26, 2012 — 5 Years

"Auntie Vee, I need your wedding ring. You forgot to give it to Uncle Logan after lunch."

Veronica turned away from Carol and Alicia to find her six-year-old god-daughter standing next to her with her hand out. "I did, didn't I?" She pulled both rings off and handed the wedding band to Lilly, then pressed her engagement ring onto her right ring finger. "Thank you sweetie. I've been forgetting everything lately."

"Uncle Logan said it was pregnancy brain."

Veronica gave the little girl a smile that she knew didn't actually reach her eyes. "Wasn't that sweet of him," she said in a sour voice. Both Carol and Alicia burst into laughter and Alicia stepped forward to wrap her arms around Lilly's shoulders.

"Thanks for coming to get it, Lilly," she said in a much happier tone than Veronica's. "You'd better hurry and get it back to him." She started to usher Lilly toward the door but the girl stopped and turned back to Veronica.

"You look so pretty, Aunt Veronica," she said and wrapped her arms around Veronica's slightly thickened waist. Lilly leaned her head against the tiny bump, pressing her ear against it. She then turned her head, whispered to Veronica's middle, and then kissed it.

"The baby's excited about the wedding," she said with a smile. The room full of women erupted with a chorus of 'aw's. Veronica smiled a real smile this time and crouched down to hug the little girl.

"What did you tell him, honey?"

"Her, Auntie Vee, the baby's a her," Lilly said firmly. "I told her to be good and not make you throw up before the wedding's done." Veronica laughed.

"I've pretty much stopped doing that but thanks for reminding her, Lils."

"Uncle Dick and Sam made a bet about you throwing up in the middle of the ceremony but I don't want that to happen."

Veronica raised her eyebrows and tilted her head. Alicia started to laugh. "Which one of them is betting I'm going to barf mid-ceremony?"

"Sam said you would but Uncle Dick says you won't," Lilly said with a giggle.

Veronica nodded. "I'm glad that Dick's finally learned not to underestimate me. Can you do something for me, sweetie?" She stood back up and stretched; the crouched position hadn't been comfortable.

"Sure."

"Take the ring to Uncle Logan first and then when you go out to sit with your daddy and Teresa, please tell Sam that if I do have to throw up mid-ceremony, I will do it on him. So even if he wins, he loses." There was a burst of laughter through the room. "Got it, Lils?"

The little girl laughed. "That's funny. I'll tell him. But I still hope that you don't throw up."

"Yeah, I hope that too but if I'm gonna do it, let's make it worthwhile, right?" She kissed Lilly's head and turned her back toward the door again. "Thanks, Lils, I'll see you after, okay?" Lilly nodded and disappeared out the door.

"I should probably go with her," Alicia said. "You're going to get started soon, and I kinda want to see Sam's reaction to your message." She wrapped her arms around Veronica. "You do look so beautiful, honey. I'm so glad to be here."

"Where else would my mother be?" Veronica asked and Alicia's eyes filled with tears.

"Love you, sweetie."

"Love you too." Alicia gave her a final squeeze and then headed out to the hall. As Veronica stood, watching her go, Carol stepped up and put her arm around Veronica's shoulders.

"It's so good to see you with her. You deserve to have a mom all of the time, not just the couple times a year that we get to see you."

Veronica looped her arm around Carol's waist. "Hey, I'm seeing you guys a lot more right now than I'm seeing Dad and Alicia. And poor Logan never sees anyone since he's studying all the time."

"He's clearly seeing you, honey," Carol said with a smirk, cupping her hand around Veronica's lace-covered baby bump.

"Ha ha, very funny." Veronica rubbed her hand across her stomach. "I'm the only one he sees. His Master's program's done next May and we'll move back home but right now, Rhode Island's a three hour plane trip to you and it's eight hours to get to San Diego so guess who gets more visiting?"

"And you'll still be close when the baby comes," the older woman said in an excited voice.

"Yeah, but it will be January. Do you really want to travel then?"

"This isn't Antarctica, Veronica. I know your California girl sensibilities are still offended by your first winter on the East Coast but the world does not shut down because a little snow falls. So, don't worry, I will be there when this baby makes its appearance."

Veronica turned to Carol and hugged her tightly. "I'm so glad. Dad and Alicia are planning to come out too, a week before my due date, and they'll stay for the duration. I was so worried about getting snowed in when I go into labor and Logan being off doing his second semester of practicum, and I'm home alone having a baby. But all you guys are coming and the baby's due date is turning out to be between semesters, so I'll have everyone there with me no matter what happens. The only other thing I could do is move my personal paramedic in with us but that pesky job of Mady's might keep that from working out."

"She's so sorry she couldn't be here today. These five-on, five-off shifts don't really let you plan your life around other people's schedules. She'll come down from Baltimore as soon as she gets off on Saturday morning."

A voice rang through the room before Veronica could respond. "Ladies, it's time. Who wants to be first?"

Veronica smirked at Carol. "I think we should bring up the rear again. See if Logan can wait of his own accord this time."

Logan stood at the front of the room, watching his family and friends as he waited for Veronica to appear. There were eight couples getting married today, five new and one other vow renewal besides he and Veronica and Bob and Carol. When Veronica wasn't the first bride to appear, he assumed she and Carol would be near the back of the line again. That gave him a little time to watch all his guests.

Keith and Alicia, of course. They'd gotten married almost two years after he and Veronica and he could not have asked for a better mother-in-law. No, he couldn't have asked for a better mother, for himself or for Veronica. Veronica was still steadfastly refusing to allow her own mother to be part of their lives but she had embraced Alicia completely. Keith had harassed them good-naturedly for about six months after their secret wedding but then he just stopped and, after four and a half years, Logan felt more of a bond with Keith than he'd ever felt with his own father. And when they'd flown home a month ago to tell the family that Veronica was pregnant, Keith had been ecstatic. On the flight back to Providence, Veronica had reminded him that she'd told him years ago that grandkids would make all the difference and he'd admitted that she'd been right all along.

Darrell sat next to Alicia, a high school student following in his big brother's basketball footsteps. Between Darrell and Wallace was Jeannie. Wallace, like Logan, was about to start the second year of a Master's program but in Mechanical Engineering rather than Forensic Psychology. Jeannie had stuck with the FBI, doing two more internships before she completed her combined BA/MA degree program and she'd been doing her time in the Quantico bullpen since graduation. Jeannie and Wallace had hit it off during the wedding reception five years ago and had had an on again-off again, long distance thing going ever since. Logan knew they both dated other people when they were apart but he also knew that they met up at least a couple times a year. Jeannie had confessed to Veronica about six months earlier that she'd put in for a transfer to either San Diego or Los Angeles and Logan figured that once she made the move, it wouldn't be long before she and Wallace made some kind of commitment. Alicia adored Jeannie and looked at every other girl whom Wallace brought home with a jaundiced eye. Veronica had been thrilled with the news of the California transfer and took every opportunity to remind Wallace of how awesome Jeannie was.

Next to Wallace was Mac, with Dick glued to her side. They'd been living together since second semester of sophomore year at Hearst. Mac had gone straight to work after graduation and was an up and comer at Kane Software's biggest competitor. In a rather shocking turn of events, Dick had graduated on time with a Business degree and had started an MBA program but after one semester, Mac's work transferred her to the Bay Area and Dick quit school to follow her. He'd gotten a job in Asset Management, whatever the hell that was, and proposed to Mac at least monthly. She continued to say no but Logan knew she was starting to soften on the issue.

Next to Dick sat Sam. The two of them were usually inseparable when they got together, which never surprised Logan. Sam was still living on the island and working for the County Assessor while continuing to be a member of the volunteer Fire Department. He and Mady had dated for about a year and a half but when she graduated and took a job as a paramedic in Baltimore, they had parted ways. Sam didn't want to leave the island and Mady's career was definitely her focus. On the other side of Sam was Irv, still the County Clerk. He'd joked to Logan at dinner the night before that Sam was going to join him in the perpetual bachelor's club since he was still pining over Mady after three and a half years. Geny sat next to Irv, just graduated from college two months earlier and in the midst of a job search.

Beyond Geny was Teresa, Duncan's wife. She had been an Early Childhood Education major at Hearst whom he'd hired to be Lilly's part-time nanny but after only a few months, Duncan had moved her into his house and they were married shortly after that. She was nice enough but Logan wasn't sure what the big rush had been. The irony of him feeling that way after his own two day engagement was not lost on Logan. Everyone had assumed that she'd been pregnant when they got married so quickly but after four more years, Lilly remained the only Kane heir. Duncan sat next to Teresa with Lilly on his lap. Logan may not have understood Duncan's rapid marriage but he'd been glad when it happened. It made him more confident that Duncan wasn't going to take another stab at winning Veronica back. Logan was very confident that all that would come of that would be Veronica trying to stab Duncan but it still made him feel better that Duncan shouldn't even try to be a problem again. He and Veronica really weren't close with Duncan and Teresa; they were only at the wedding because of Lilly. They were very close to the little girl; she'd flown out to visit them over her Spring Break and she was supposed to come stay with them for a week before she and Logan both had to go back to school.

Logan saw the last groom besides he and Bob step forward to meet his bride. He was pretty sure that he was next. "Am I going to need to anchor you again?" Bob said to him quietly.

"Probably not. I'm used to having her now. Back then, I still couldn't believe my luck." Veronica appeared at the head of the aisle then, in her same wedding dress and boots but with the tiniest of baby bumps flaring the dress out in a way it hadn't five years ago. He felt like his heart was going to burst out of his chest as he watched her walking up the aisle, eyes locked on him and smiling like he was the only other person in the world. He took a step toward her and Bob's hand clamped on his shoulder, just like it had the first time. The heavy hand, followed by a burst of laughter from the front row, snapped Logan back to reality and he glanced briefly at Bob. "Sorry. I guess I still can't believe my luck." Bob laughed and held firm until Veronica was within a few steps. Free of the anchor, Logan bounced out like he had five years before, taking her hand and kissing it, then kissing her temple and leading her to the front of the room.

"Logan, you're nuts, I'm fine."

"I believe I am more qualified than you to decide if I'm nuts or not and I most certainly am not, except about you. And your ankles are swollen, so keep them up." Logan sat down next to her on the bed with two flutes of sparkling cider. He handed one to her, then tipped his own glass to hers and the crystal made a delicate clinking sound. "More than yesterday."

"Less than tomorrow," Veronica answered, smiling at their most common toast, before taking a long drink of her cider. She lowered the glass and Logan took it from her, putting it next to his on the nightstand before leaning in to cradle her cheek.

"When I carried you back into this very room, five years ago, I couldn't imagine loving you any more than I did then. I couldn't fathom that there really could be more than what I already felt for you. That 'more than yesterday, less than tomorrow' saying, I loved it, but I had no idea what it really meant. Now, I do know, and it staggers me when I think what's coming. We're having a baby, we'll be back home in a year—"

"Back to the double-headed shower!" Veronica said in a teasing voice.

"How many times do I have to apologize for renting a house out here without that?" Logan answered, rolling his eyes, as he moved his hand from her cheek and ran it down her arm.

"You can never apologize enough for that one," she said sternly, before bursting into laughter.

"And no hot tub," he added.

"That's turned out okay since I couldn't get in it now anyway," she said in a woeful voice.

"See? That's the way to look at the bright side, pookie," he teased, then leaned into her again for a long kiss. She pressed forward against his chest, and then pulled her legs in under her so she could kneel next to him. He wrapped his arms around her to unzip her dress, then pulled it over her head. "Ooh, this is new." He ran a finger along the lacy edge of her bra to its front clasp before tracing the finger down over her swelling stomach and down to the tiny triangle of lace at the apex of her thighs. He pressed gently and she rocked forward on her knees to get more pressure. He chuckled and dragged his finger away and down the straps of her garter belt to the tops of her stockings.

"I had last minute lingerie on our last wedding night; I wanted to make sure I had something a little more exciting this time." She scooted closer and straddled his lap, grasping his shirt on both sides. "And look at you, back in snaps." She smirked and gave a quick tug, pulling his shirt open all the way to the bottom. "Ah, much better." She smoothed her hands up his chest and then looped them around his neck. "So, before I interrupted you about my shower—"

"Your shower?"

"Yes, my shower. I share it with you because you're a very useful accessory in there but make no mistake, it's mine. Anyway, you were waxing poetic about how you couldn't imagine what it would mean to love more and more. You have more love than anyone I've ever known. It doesn't surprise me that you've got more to give me, us—" she pulled a hand from his neck to lay on her stomach and he laced his fingers through hers "—every day. What I'm constantly surprised by is how much more I feel for you. I'm a little on the prickly side...you might have noticed this once or twice—" she gave him a rueful grin and he chuckled "—but what you've given me, the love you've given me, it's been what I needed more than anything else, and I never knew it. I love you, Logan. I'm not sure how I got so lucky to have you in my life but I will never stop being grateful."

"That makes two of us. Just us being out here, not here for the wedding but out here so I can go to school. I always assumed I'd be following you from goal to goal, and the fact that you've set aside working with your dad, or going to law school, and whatever else you've thought of doing, so I can get this degree, it astonishes me daily."

"Logan, it's like you said, whatever I've thought of doing. The thing is, I've got lots of interests and I always love my work with Dad, but right now, nothing particularly compels me. You, you've got a vision for these centers for abuse victims and this Master's program is going to help you achieve that. I know you'd support me in anything but right now, it's my turn to support you." She smiled at him and he cupped his hands along the sides of her neck, combing his fingers into her hair and resting their foreheads together. His eyes were glittering with tears.

"And you think I'm the poetic one."

"Oh, you are. I just get lucky sometimes. And speaking of getting lucky..." She reached up to the bra clasp and gave it a twist. "Your buddy Dick informed me today that I'm getting an awesome baby rack. Let's put it to some use."

Wednesday, July 25, 2018 — 11 Years

"My turn! Daaddeee! Throw me now!"

The blonde two-year-old climbed Logan like a monkey, pool water splashing all around them as she threw her arms around his neck. "My turn. Throw me high."

"Are you sure, Reenie?" He curled his arm under her so she was sitting on it with her legs wrapped around him, then pushed her wet curls behind her ear. "When Uncle Dick threw you last week, you didn't like it."

"Nope, I'm a big girl now. I wanna fly like Lilly and Robin." She waved her arm behind her, toward her older god-sister and sister who were splashing and giggling in the water.

"Okay, baby girl," Logan said, kissing her forehead and shifting his arms to hold the bottom of her tiny feet in one hand and rest the other on her back. "Are you ready?"

"Wait! Mommy! Watch me!" she shrieked over her shoulder. Logan snickered. This was the grandchild his father-in-law described as 'Mars through and through'. Veronica peeked into the basket at her feet, spoke briefly to Jeannie who was sitting next to her poolside, and then stood up to walk to the pool's edge.

"Okay, baby, Mommy's watching." She raised her eyebrows and smiled at Logan. "Careful, Daddy."

"Always," he said and then looked directly at Reenie. "Are you ready?" She nodded eagerly. "Okay, deep breath." He glanced behind him, then took a big gasping breath in with her and sank them both under the water before pushing up and flipping his daughter over his head behind him. He didn't push very far so when she bobbed back up to the surface, cackling like a maniac, she was within easy reach.

"Again, again, again!" she shrieked as she dog-paddled furiously back to him. Her enthusiasm attracted the attention of the other girls who swam out to them. All three latched their arms around his neck and hung on him, laughing—twelve-year-old Lilly hanging on piggy-back with Reenie and five-year-old Robin each latched onto his torso.

"Are you girls trying to drown me?" he said and sank under the water again. He popped up after a moment and called to the group on the side. "None of you are going to save me from these giggling loons?" Veronica sat down on the side with her legs in the water and she looked at him fondly as he drifted closer to her.

"I'm reasonably confident in your ability to stay alive in this situation," she said with a smile. "And your son is going to start yelling in about two minutes if he doesn't get to eat." She looked up at Wallace who had come to stand next to her on the pool's edge. "What about you, little brother? Gonna get in and help Logan?" He snorted a laugh.

"I don't think so. If I get in, it would probably be to help the girls."

Robin and Lilly launched themselves for the wall where he stood, clamoring for him to get in so they could have a full-fledged splash war. Logan, left with only Reenie in his arms, laughed. "Sure not feeling the love from Uncle Wallace." He looked meaningfully at his brother-in-law. "Not too much longer, dude, and you're going to find yourself in a similar situation and you're going to look back at this moment and wish you'd been a little more helpful."

Wallace laughed. "Maybe, but I think Imma risk it." He hopped into the pool and the girls flung themselves on him.

"No fair," Logan said with a laugh, "three against two."

"Yeah, no fair," Reenie echoed.

"I guess if you're scared," Lilly taunted and Logan raised his eyebrows at Reenie.

"Are we gonna take that?" he asked and she shook her head vigorously, then they simultaneously began to send waves of water at the other three with open palms skating across the water's surface. Veronica jumped up from the side of the pool, laughing as she scurried back to her chair and the other combatants immediately threw themselves into a counter-attack.

The battle lasted about four minutes. At that point, Logan and Wallace declared a draw and scooted the girls out of the pool to start to dry off so they could all go in and get ready for the evening banquet. Reenie headed straight for the little playground next to the pool and the older girls followed her while Logan and Wallace both flopped down onto towels on the pool deck next to their wives' lounge chairs.

"All hail the conquering heroes," Jeannie said with a smirk.

Veronica looked up from the baby and rolled her eyes. "Conquering? They both gave up because three little girls were kicking their asses in a water fight." She snorted in derision and the drowsy baby startled. "Oh, Danny, I'm sorry, little buddy."

"Hand him over," Logan said, reaching for the baby, then balancing him on his forearm and massaging his back, trying to coax a burp out of him while Veronica put her swimming suit back in order and pulled away the towel she'd been using as a cover-up. Wallace laughed at the burp that rumbled out of the baby.

"You're pretty good at that," he said.

"He's had lots of practice," Veronica said. "You're going to get plenty of that soon yourself." She leaned over to Jeannie and pressed her hand against her bulging stomach, laughing as it pressed back against her. "I love that they do that."

"I could always get Reenie to do the same," Logan said with a pout as he laid Danny on his back on the towel, then stretched out next to him. He leaned over to blow a raspberry on the baby's belly, then hooked a finger around his ankle and raised the tiny foot to his face, alternating between kissing the baby's toes and making nonsensical faces at him while Danny laughed.

"I don't think there's any particular skill involved with these guys," Jeannie said. "It's that they're so crowded in there. Anyone infringing on their limited space must be dealt with. Swiftly and harshly, if necessary." She rested her feet on Wallace's chest and settled back further into the lounge.

"Ah, that part they get that from their Aunt Veronica." Her words earned her a snort of laughter from Wallace. "But come on, there's only two of them in there," Veronica teased. "How crowded can it be?"

"Trust me, it's crowded," Jeannie said emphatically. "They've only left me about twenty minutes of bladder space and we've got more than two months to go still."

"Well, hopefully for you, they'll get out when it's time. As of this morning, poor Mac is overdue by a week." Jeannie shuddered and Veronica laughed, then continued, "We flew out here on her due date and she was already cursing at Dick. At this point, I'd probably be afraid to let the girls around her."

"We went by before we left," Wallace said. "She was still cursing. He was walking around with his head down, trying not to make any noise to make her notice him." The other three laughed uproariously.

"I actually feel sorry for Dick right now and those are words I never expected to say," Veronica choked out and Logan and Wallace laughed even harder. "And for all the gripes I've had with him through the years, there is one bit of reality that the two of you need to understand. Dick is an unbelievable baby-whisperer. I'm pretty sure it's because they recognize someone at the own level of maturity—" laughter exploded again "—but why he has this skill isn't the issue. He can calm down a baby faster than anyone I know, even the burp master over here. The two of you are going to come to appreciate that, especially when you've got two infants at once."

"So we need to hope that she doesn't kill him before that baby gets out of her," Jeannie said with a playful grimace.

"Yes, that is exactly what you need to hope," Veronica said. "Now that Dick's purpose in life has finally been revealed, it would be a shame to lose out on those mad skills when you need them the most."

"Speaking of mad skills, Supafly, when are you getting back to harassing the evildoers of Neptune again? The way Mom talks, it sounds like Keith and Weevil have been pretty swamped without you since you went out on leave before Danny was born."

Logan peeked up from the baby, curious to see how Veronica would respond. "It's kinda still under negotiation," she said, raising her eyebrows at him. "Dad gets a little more difficult about me coming back after each kid. I think we'll come to an understanding in the next month or two." She ran her foot along Logan's arm, digging her toes into his shoulder. He rocked his head up toward her and playfully bit her calf. "Hey you! None of that sort of thing in front of my impressionable little brother." She stood up and called for the girls. "Ladies, let's go. Time to get cleaned up for dinner." She turned back to Logan. "Wanna hand me the baby and I'll take him up with me."

"Nah, I've got him." He sat up and tucked the gurgling baby into the crook of his arm, then stood and gathered the towel, the baby's basket, and the bag of pool supplies the girls had brought downstairs with them. He heard Veronica stage whisper 'Personal sherpa' to Jeannie but ignored her as he looked over at the girls to see if they needed a reminder. Lilly and Robin were already waiting at the pool gate for the grown-ups but Reenie was still playing airplane on one of the swings, laying across the seat on her stomach with her arms outstretched as she pushed herself with her feet. "Sarah Irene Echolls! Get a move on, girlie girl."

"I'll collect her," Veronica said and headed for the swings. He watched her go with appreciation. After eleven years of marriage and three children, she was still more beautiful than any other woman he'd ever set eyes on.

"Put your tongue back in your mouth, you idiot," Wallace chided. "You're in mixed company."

"Like I haven't seen him panting after his wife in the last eleven years," Jeannie said, rolling her eyes and Wallace shook his head.

"I didn't mean you; I meant the girls."

"They've seen it more than I have; they live with him and his heart eyes every day," she said with a grin. "Just relax. It's sweet." She held out her hand. "Now help me get out of this chair. I don't think I can do it by myself."

Logan let himself into the suite quietly, in case the baby was already asleep. All three girls had gone home with Papa Bob and Nana Carol in the back of the Model T fire truck to camp out in their backyard with Mady and Geny. They would be doing the same thing tomorrow night after the wedding and Jeannie and Wallace were going to take Danny for the night. Jeannie kept telling Wallace it would be good practice and the terrified look that crossed his face every time she said that made Logan laugh. Tonight, the baby remained with them. Veronica had said good night earlier and taken him upstairs to nurse and get ready for bed.

He turned off the lights in the front room and went into the bedroom, stopping to smile at the sight of Veronica on the bed, stretched out on her side, sound asleep, while Danny lay beside her, continuing to nurse. Logan went into the bathroom to brush his teeth and shower, and when he came back out, Danny was asleep too, rolled over onto his back, one arm still resting against Veronica but the other flung out, taking up as much room as his tiny body could manage. Logan shook his head with a smile and picked him up, burping him gently before laying him on his back in the porta-crib. When he came back to the bed, Veronica was awake, her nursing bra hooked back up, and a suggestive smile on her face as she watched him walking naked toward her.

"Woke up again, did you?" he said in a teasing voice as he slid into the bed beside her. "After I do all the work to put him to bed?"

"Oh really? It seems like I was somehow involved."

"Not really. When I got here, you were very asleep and your son had resorted to self-service." He pulled her up against him and kissed her hair. "Of course, you falling asleep reading to Robin at night is why she can already read at five so maybe you had a plan after all. Teaching the infant to forage for food?" He laughed softly and scooted down so they were eye to eye. "Was that the plan?" He kissed her on the nose.

"You are so hilarious," she said in a caustic voice. "Nursing relaxes me so sometimes I fall asleep. It's not like I've got anything to do once he's latched on. Then the little noises they make... and their little hands kneading me like a kitten...it always just knocks me out."

"Going to bed to nurse might be a factor also," he said, "but now I've got you where I want you so I'm not gonna complain."

"This is not complaining?" she asked with a laugh. "I'd hate to see actual complaints."

He laughed back at her. "And now you're saying you've never heard me complain? That's awesome." He pushed his arm under her and then rolled onto his back, bringing her with him to lie on top of him. "So, we're essentially kid-less, for four to six hours I'd guess, from how full Danny's belly looked, so what would you like to do, Mrs. Echolls?"

She grinned and opened her mouth to answer but he laid a finger across her lips. "And don't say sleep, you've already done that."

She pouted playfully at him. "Barely, and I thought we had a plan. The doctor cleared me to resume conjugal activities last week and we decided to try something new and wait for the wedding night."

"I hate it when you say conjugal. It gives me ankle monitor flashbacks." She ducked her head to contain her snort of laughter against his chest.

"Sorry," she teased, "what should I say instead? Go all the way? Hit a home run? Do it?"

"What's wrong with 'make sweet love'?" She hid her face against him again and he was still afraid that the volume of her laugh would wake the baby. "You wound me, Mars."

"I'm so, so sorry," she choked out. "I would never want to do that." She continued to laugh against his chest, a pleasant rumbling feeling that warmed him through. "So, are we not waiting? I'm fine with that. I accepted a long time ago that you bring out the trollop in me."

"Oh really? Now that's interesting," he said, running his hands along her back, shoulders to legs. "But no, I still like that idea. Because, clearly, I am an overly romantic sap."

"Not overly," she said. "You're just the right amount of romantic sap. But if that's the case, what are we going to do besides sleep?"

"Have we been married so long that you don't remember that there's someplace to be besides home plate?" She laughed into his chest again.

"Are you kidding? Do you seriously think that any amount of time being married to you would make a girl forget about third?" She bent her arm to prop her head on her hand, staring at him with a smirk. "Have you lost your mind?"

"We agreed a long time ago that I would not use my advanced degree to diagnose either of our mental shortcomings." He flipped them over again, this time settling her beneath him. He kissed her neck, smiling against her skin as she gave a contented sigh and rocked her head back. He worked his way down between her breasts, to her belly, then stopped to tug off her panties, before settling himself between her raised knees. "Since you have such an extensive memory of third base, make sure you let me know if I forget anything."

Friday, July 27, 2029 — 22 Years

"Mom sent me a text a while ago. She and Dad boarded the ship and they should be setting sail in an hour or two. She said to tell you guys thank you again for their anniversary trip." Mady sat down next to Veronica on the bench where she sat watching the Tilt-a-whirl. Thirteen-year-old Reenie was riding in one car with Mady's five-year-old son, Charley, and her eight-year-old daughter, Lizzie, as well as Wallace and Jeannie's six-year-old daughter, Tamara. Eleven-year-old Danny was wedged into another car with his ten-year-old cousins, Hank and Steven Fennel, and Colby Casablancas, only a day shy of her eleventh birthday.

"Oh, we were so happy to do that. Fifty years? That's amazing. They needed a fabulous anniversary trip to honor that kind of commitment," Veronica said, smiling and waving back to Danny and his gang as they spun in front of her.

"Well, fabulous does describe this trip. A cruise to the Bahamas and then another week in a condo on the beach in Costa Rica? Sounds pretty amazing." The car with Lizzie, Charley, Tami, and Reenie spun past then and Veronica and Mady both waved this time.

"We went to Costa Rica a couple years ago. It really is beautiful." Veronica twisted toward Mady. "So, speaking of commitment..."

"Will you not? I told you before, I'm too busy to start dating again. I'm the Fire Chief now. I don't have time to look for a new husband and what does that say to my kids anyway? Sorry your dad's gone but I'm lonely?"

Veronica scoffed. "You're being deliberately difficult. There's nothing wrong with wanting to resume that part of your life. And you know you don't have to look. Sam's right here. He's been waiting for twenty years. Even after you and Kevin got married, he's still never been serious about anyone else. He just resigned himself to being alone. And now you're finally back on the island and sweetie, I know it's hard for you, but Charley doesn't even remember Kevin. Sam's been the closest thing to a dad he can remember."

"It's not normal to break up with a guy, marry someone else and have kids, and then when your husband dies, just pick up again with the old boyfriend."

"You're not just picking up again. It's been three years since Kevin died. Sam's been right there the whole time, supporting you, being there for the kids, and he's never pushed you. Why are you denying what you feel?"

"How do you know what I feel? Yes, Sam's been a good friend and yes, he's been great with the kids and yes, I do still enjoy spending time with him and...crap." Mady stopped and glared at Veronica. "Curse your pushiness."

Veronica laughed. "You should know after all these years to just take my advice without fighting me. So, here's the plan. We're going to be at your folks' house tonight and your kids can join the super-mega-camp-out with our troop. Then, you and Sam can go out to dinner with no need to rush home. Or to send him home." She smirked at Mady's reddening cheeks.

"This is your anniversary weekend. Shouldn't we be the ones watching the kids?"

"We had our traditional night at the Inn after the wedding last night. And don't worry about us; the kids are camping out and we'll be just fine in the house alone." She smiled smugly. "I have a very resourceful husband. After twenty-two years and three children, we've learned a lot of tricks to maintaining an extremely satisfying sex life in a full house. Tonight, the house won't even be full since they'll all be outside." She waggled her eyebrows at Mady. "Do NOT worry about us."

Mady snorted and shook her head. "That really is one thing I've never worried about. You two still behave like those nineteen year olds who couldn't keep their hands off each other at the carnival. It's cute. And a little gross." They both burst into laughter.

"Our kids think so too. The gross part at least. But they don't complain anymore. The girls especially have learned that the fastest way to get Logan to step up the parental PDA is to complain about it. So now the worst we get is some under-the-breath grumbling and they walk away." They laughed again, laughter that was cut short when a frazzled looking Logan suddenly appeared in front of them, his hand grasping the arm of a very unhappy looking Robin. Sam, Dick, and Wallace stood behind them with varying degrees of smirks on their faces.

"Dad, come on. Would you just relax? There was nothing going on."

"That's not how it looked to me, young lady," Logan growled and a guffaw burst from Dick. Logan whipped around and although Veronica couldn't see his face, she suspected there might have been some bared teeth involved because Dick held his hands up in front of him and pressed his lips together like he was trying to keep quiet, but when Logan pivoted away again, Dick's shoulders began to shake with suppressed laughter.

"Dick, the kids are all coming off the ride, why don't you guys take them over to the games?" Veronica said and Mady stood up.

"Great idea," she said, walking up to the men and looping her arm through Sam's. "Let's see how many stuffed animals this crew can win." She looked up at Sam. "I think I need you to win me a bear." He smiled delightedly at her and she led him over to where the kids were starting to get off the Tilt-a-whirl. Wallace nodded and pushed Dick in that direction as well.

"You idiot," Veronica heard Wallace say to Dick as they walked away. "You're gonna have a sixteen-year-old daughter in five years. We'll see how you like it."

Robin tugged free of her father's grasp and dropped onto the bench next to Veronica. "Mom, he's overreacting. Nothing happened. We were riding the Ferris Wheel; that's all. Dad acts like I was having sex in public or something."

Veronica looked up at Logan whose eyes were squeezed shut as he took deep breaths. After a moment, he opened his eyes and moved to sit on the other side of Veronica. "Okay, I may have overreacted a little. But you weren't just riding the Ferris Wheel, you were kissing a boy on a Ferris Wheel."

"It was just a kiss. Our first kiss. And he's probably never gonna want to kiss me again since he knows now that my father's an overprotective maniac." Robin huffed in agitation. "Maybe sixteen year olds didn't kiss when you were young—" Veronica gave a bark of laughter "—but it's not a big deal now."

"Of course sixteen year olds kissed when we were young," Logan said in an irritated voice. "But you can't just go around kissing guys you just met."

"Just met? What are you talking about? I've known Michael for five years. We come here every summer, Dad. I'm pretty sure you know him too." Robin huffed again and leaned against Veronica, resting her cheek on top of Veronica's head as Veronica wrapped her arms around her daughter's shoulders. Their oldest had gotten Logan's height and darker hair but had Veronica's blue eyes. "Mom, can you tell him please?"

Veronica reached out to grasp Logan's hand. "Yeah, I'm pretty sure we know him too. And no one's telling you that you can't kiss anyone—" Logan scoffed and she squeezed his hand "—but we want you to make good choices and be careful."

"Mom, I know all that. It was one kiss. Maybe two. We weren't gonna do anything more. We're not gonna have sex—"

"You better believe you're not," Logan exploded and Veronica released his hand to wrap her arm around his shoulders, pulling him down to lean against her, his head resting on hers just like Robin's was, her hand cupped around the side of his head.

"Logan, please. Robin, good choices can mean being more conscious of where you are when you kiss someone. In the middle of the carnival when you know your dad and I are walking around might suggest that you're not thinking that clearly. It's not unreasonable to make assumptions about your other choices after that. But, overall, we do trust you and if you want to go back and find Michael and your other friends, you can. Just make sure you're thinking before you act. Okay?"

"Thank you, Mommy," Robin said, turning to Veronica to kiss her on the cheek. She jumped up and made it a few steps away before turning back to her parents. "I'm sorry, Dad. I'll make good decisions. I promise." Logan grunted and Robin stepped closer to kiss him on top of the head before whirling away again and disappearing.

Her other arm now free, Veronica reached for Logan's hand, lacing their fingers together as she patted his head gently. "You okay, Dad?"

"All these girls. They're gonna send me to an early grave. First, Lilly, now Robin. Reenie in a year or two. I don't think my heart can take this stress."

"Glad to see your melodramatic streak is alive and well. Lilly's never done anything that would warrant these ravings. She's graduated from college, she starts law school in a month; she's a grown-up, Logan. And Robin and Reenie are both fine. Good students, well behaved. You of all people should know that sixteen-year-olds do sometimes kiss." Veronica kissed the top of his head and he sighed.

"I know exactly what sixteen-year-olds do, which is why I was so freaked out to see my sixteen-year-old kissing a boy on a Ferris Wheel. I know what boys want when they get stuck at the top with a pretty girl."

"Then it's a good thing you've got a smart daughter who has goals and knows that being a teen mom isn't a way to achieve them. Two smart daughters as a matter of fact. Now straighten up, Echolls." Veronica shrugged her shoulder to nudge Logan back upright. He sat up, and then pulled her into his lap.

"Sorry. You're right."

"I know. I'm always right. Now—" Veronica leaned against his chest, dropping her head to nestle in the crook of his neck before kissing under his jaw then up behind his ear. "—after this whole incident, I'm guessing Robin will be staying off the Ferris Wheel for a while. Maybe wanna go see if we can get stuck at the top? You can show me what boys want at the top of a Ferris Wheel."

Thursday, July 26, 2035 — 28 Years

Veronica laughed and twisted her head as Logan kept trying to kiss her. With her mouth out of reach, he began to plant little kisses on her cheeks and then her neck. "Logan," she whispered, "you're making a spectacle."

He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her tightly against him. "I told you after our first wedding that when we'd been married as long as Bob and Carol, I'd have you up here for half an hour. We've beat 'em by a year this time around. I'm just getting started, baby."

Her head dropped back as she laughed and he continued to nuzzle into her, kissing around her throat to reach the other side of her neck. "Oh, that's right," she said, before pushing her hands against his chest. "But I also remember telling you that I didn't want to waste that much time just standing up here in front of everyone when we could get back to our room instead."

"Oh yeah," Logan said like he'd just had a revelation. He kissed her neck once more, then cupped her face in his hands. "Do you have any idea how much I love you?"

"I think I might," she said with a smile. "It's somewhere near as much as I love you." He smiled back, resting his forehead against hers, then gave her a final kiss before straightening up and sliding his hands down to catch hers. They glanced around them then, finding Bob and Carol standing right next to them, grinning.

"Are you two finally done?" Bob asked and Carol swatted his arm.

"For now," Logan replied with a smirk. "We're just waiting on you to lead us out of here. That is your main job today, right?"

"I guess it is," Bob said, then reached out so he and Carol could embrace the younger couple. "Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Echolls."

"Same to you, Mr. and Mrs. Cooper."

Veronica and Reenie refused to let the group leave before cake but after that, everyone planned to meet up for dinner on the screened-in porch at AJ's on the Creek. Logan opened the door to the porch and waved Veronica in, finding most of his friends and family had already arrived. Keith was out on the deck with Bob and Irv while they had cigars. Alicia, Carol, Jeannie, and Wallace were already seated at the table, talking, with Lilly, Robin, and Reenie standing behind them, leaning against the back of their chairs, to get in on the conversation. At the far end of the table, the 'Gang of Four', Danny, Colby, Hank, and Steven, were clustered together, joined by Lizzie, Tami, and Charley, demolishing a basket of bread and playing Crazy Eights.

"Hey, keep moving, you're holding up traffic," Dick said from behind Logan and Veronica. Logan turned to find Mac and Dick accompanied by Mady and Sam.

"Where have the two of you been?" Mac asked with a grin. "Or do I even need to ask?"

"What are you talking about?" Logan asked, holding the door open for the stragglers. Sam was holding a large bakery box. "We got here before you guys did."

"Barely, and we had to stop by the bakery and the cake wasn't done yet," Mady laughed. "So we've got an excuse to have taken forty-five minutes to make a ten minute drive. But personally, I don't actually want to know where you two were, or what you were doing." She looped her arm through Mac's and they headed for the table. "I'm pretty sure you don't actually want to know either."

"Yeah, you're right, but I always like to ask." Mac glanced back over her shoulder toward Veronica, then winked at Logan. "It's one of the few ways to get Veronica to blush."

"Are you blushing, Ronnie?" Dick taunted, scrunching down to look her right in the face. He straightened up and looked back at Sam with a leering grin. "I don't know why. I used to catch them going at it all the time. The first few years they were married, I probably saw Ronnie's boobs almost as many times as Ma—ow, ow, ow, hey!" He clutched his arm where Veronica had punched him and Logan laughed at Dick's continuing lack of self-preservation. "I'm just messing around."

"Mac? His Will's up to date, right?" Veronica called and Mac burst into laughter.

"Oh definitely. I make sure it stays current just for occasions such as this."

Dick pouted at Veronica and she glared at him, then turned away to follow Mac and Mady, giving him a careless wave of her hand. "When you least expect it, Casablancas."

"Are you never going to learn?" Sam said in an exasperated voice to Dick and that made Logan laugh harder than any other part of the amusing exchange.

"Dick, dude, if even Sam is counseling you against something, you really should have learned by now. Stop poking the bear." Logan clapped his hand on Dick's arm and turned to follow Veronica, chuckling and shaking his head.

"She's your bear. Can't you control her?"

Logan turned back with a grin. "She is my bear. And I like her like this."

Dinner was ordered and the room was buzzing with conversation when Logan stood and tapped his water glass to get everyone's attention. Veronica reached out to take his hand.

"Logan, babe, I'm pretty sure the kids can recite your speech by heart. You say the same thing every time we have a wedding." Across the table, Dick snickered. Logan leaned down and cradled her cheek in his hand, kissing her softly on the forehead.

"You knowing that I love you doesn't stop me from telling you over and over, does it?" She smiled up at him and shook her head. "So if I want to repeat myself at dinner once every five or six or eleven years, then I'm gonna." She pressed her own hand against his on her cheek and stretched up to kiss him.

"Okay," she said when they'd pulled apart at the hoots from Sam and Dick and the groans from the kids. "You can say whatever you want. I'll try not to mouth the words along with you."

"Har har," he said, "I do have other news to share so hold the snark for Dick." He dropped one more kiss on her lips and straightened up again.

"Okay, so, I just want to thank everyone for being with us again this week as I make sure that the love of my life is still willing to be legally bound to me. I've been told by my love—" he raised his eyebrows at Veronica "—that I bore you all with the same speech thanking all of you for being the best family anyone could ever have—" there was laughter through the room "—so I guess I'll skip that part and get straight to the new information that should take even her by surprise, and believe me, pulling a surprise on this woman is haaaarrd to do."

"She learned from the best," Keith called from the end of the table and Logan tipped a salute to him while the rest of the group laughed.

"That she did. But even the best sometimes miss some things." Logan pushed his chair out of the way and walked around the table, stopping behind Lilly's chair and resting his hands on her shoulders. She tilted her head back, smiling up at him, and he leaned down to kiss the top of her head.

"Now everyone was happy and maybe surprised to see our lovely Lilly this week. She couldn't be here last time we had a wedding because she was getting ready to start law school in New York and we've barely seen her since. School and then the hours of a new associate in a high-powered corporate law firm—it's a wonder we even still recognize her, she's been so absent from our lives for the last few years." He stopped and looked down at her. "You are Lilly Megan Kane, right? We did pick up the right girl at the airport?"

She ducked her head and laughed. "Yes, Uncle Logan, it's really me." She rested her hands on his on her shoulders.

"I knew that," he said, kissing her head again and then straightening up to look around the room, "because I've actually seen her since all of you have."

"She came out in January for my birthday," Robin said. "That's the last time she came home."

"Ah, but no it wasn't," Logan said, walking back toward his chair, grinning at Veronica, who was looking at him with her head tilted, obviously trying to figure him out. "Lilly came to Los Angeles in February, and none of you knew it."

"And you did?" Mac asked, looking between Logan and Veronica, frowning. "Why?"

"Because I'm the one who talked her into it." He dropped into his chair with his arm around Veronica's shoulders. "You're up, Lils; this is your news."

Lilly took the napkin off her lap and stood up. "Well, like Robin said, I managed to get home briefly for her birthday and I realized that it had been more than a year since I'd been able to do even that. And it was so great to see everyone and I realized just how lonely I was in New York. I was talking to Uncle Logan about that and how I'm really not enjoying practicing corporate law. I know some people who just love it, love the power and the money, but really, if I need a fix of that, I can go home to either of my grandparents. Enough of it to choke on there."

There was a moment of embarrassed laughter and Lilly shook her head. "Sorry. I love them but that lifestyle was never what made me happy. I'm not sure why I didn't realize it sooner." Lilly looked around the table, her gaze coming to rest on Logan. "Uncle Logan helped me understand that I needed to figure out what I want, and stop just going along with what I thought I was supposed to do."

Logan felt Veronica's head rest against his shoulder and he looked down to see her smiling at him. "Good job, Unca Logie," she whispered.

"So, the first thing I did was register to take the California bar." Excited voices exploded over Lilly's statement.

After a moment, Logan spoke up. "Settle down, people, she's not done yet."

Lilly looked around the room. "And then I studied like a crazy person for the next six weeks and I flew to L.A. at the end of February and took the exam. Uncle Logan came up to take me to dinner on the last day and he brought a couple of people with him."

"Well, neither of those people were his beloved wife," Veronica said in an irritated voice and Logan smirked at her and snuggled his face into her neck.

"And I missed you every second, baby," he murmured in her ear and she harrumphed.

"Anyway," Lilly continued, "Uncle Logan brought the attorneys from the legal department for his centers to talk to me about the kind of work they do. I've been doing corporate work and they do mostly family law so it's a big change of focus. Anyway, I was pretty interested in what they had to say but then I had to wait for my bar results. Which came earlier this month."

"And of course, you passed," Robin said, rolling her eyes. "Was there ever a question?"

"Well, I thought there was," Lilly said with a self-deprecating smile, "but yes, I did pass. So, in September, I'm moving back to California and becoming part of the Port Sûr Centers' legal team."

The room exploded again with excitement. Robin leapt up to hug Lilly and the laughter rang through the room as they both jumped up and down with their arms around each other like they had since they were both little girls. Dick and Mac came around the table to hug Lilly also, once they were able to pry her away from Robin.

"Impressive secret keeping, Echolls," Veronica whispered in Logan's ear. "Keeping me in the dark since January? How did you manage to do that?"

"It wasn't easy," Logan responded, turning to press his lips against hers. "I've been going nuts wanting to talk to you about this. But I wanted to surprise you more."

"Well, you succeeded," she said in an admiring voice. "And you brought Lilly back to us, and you've gotten one step closer to establishing Port Sûr for the future. In another few years, Robin will have her Masters' and she can take over for you, now with Lilly backing her up, and since Danny should be off at college most of the time by then, you and I can really start traveling like we did during the summers in college."

The sparkle in her eyes thrilled him and he kissed her again. "That's my plan," he said, just as an army of wait staff stepped out onto the porch with their dinners.

Veronica scraped up the last of the frosting on her plate and popped her fork in her mouth, savoring the chocolatey sweetness.

"Are you going to lick the plate next?" Irv asked playfully. Veronica elbowed him in the side. Mac and Jeannie, sitting directly across from her, laughed.

"Are you ever going to stop harassing me about dessert?"

"Probably not. It's one of my favorite things." Veronica rolled her eyes.

"Most people are satisfied with whiskers on kittens," Logan said as he dropped into the chair between Veronica and Mady. Wallace followed behind him, walking around to the other side of the table and sitting next to Jeannie.

"Always been more of a dog person myself," Irv said with a sniff. "So, all the children are off to watch fireworks?"

"You realize the oldest of those children is nearly thirty, right?" Veronica asked.

"Actually, darlin', when you put it that way, the oldest of the children is fifty-something," Irv said, tilting his head at Mady. "But that makes me look really old so I don't wanna talk about it."

Logan laughed as Sam pushed the door from the restaurant open, bearing a tray of drinks. Dick was right behind him with a second tray. Keith and Alicia came in from the deck, followed by Bob and Carol. Dick and Sam distributed drinks around the table and then sat down with their wives.

"So, does everyone have a glass?" Mady asked as she rose to her feet. "As the most ancient kid in this bunch, I think I need to be the one to make the toast this time." There was a clamor of noise as everyone found their glasses and then quiet as they waited for Mady's toast. She turned toward Bob and Carol, then lifted her glass, smiling as she glanced around the table.

"Okay, so, I'd like to propose a toast, to my parents, on the 56th anniversary of their marriage. I feel like I was blessed to get them for my mom and dad. They've been an amazing example of the kind of parent, and spouse, and honestly, just the kind of person, I want to be."

"Hear hear," Logan said, raising his glass with a smile and the rest of the table joined in. After everyone had taken their drinks and returned them to the table, Mady spoke again.

"And, on the 28th anniversary of their marriage, a toast to Logan and Veronica. I really didn't expect, when we interrupted them making out in the middle of the carnival—"

"Hang on. We were NOT making out," Veronica said indignantly and everyone else at the table burst into laughter.

"It was only a matter of time," Sam said, and Veronica ducked her head against Logan's shoulder, hiding her face.

"Anyway, as I was saying," Mady said, still laughing, "I never expected that I was meeting two people who were going to become part of my family. Or who would bring so many other people into my life who would become part of my family. Not just their kids but all of you. Even with the distance between here and California, it feels like everyone here is family. Just like Logan tells us after every wedding." She tipped her head toward him and he blew her a kiss. "All thanks to these two chuckleheads who couldn't keep their hands off each other long enough to eat a tube of cotton candy."

"This might be too much information," Keith said over the laughter.

"Sorry," Mady said but the grin on her face made it seem like she might not be that sorry. "So, again, a toast to Logan and Veronica, and to all of us, the mixed-up family that they built by making a crazy choice on the spur of the moment. Cheers." She lifted her glass and the room rang out with 'Cheers' and 'Saluds' from all around the table.

"And cheers to me," Dick called out, "for getting the whackjobs back together after someone who shall remain nameless—" Sam and Wallace both fake-coughed into their hands, muttering, 'Logan' like a practiced comedy duo before laughing at each other and high-fiving across Jeannie "—went nuts and tried to ruin the whole thing." Logan shook his head and tipped his glass toward Dick.

"Hey, love makes you do crazy things," he said, leaning over to rest his cheek on Veronica's head. She rolled her eyes and nodded.

"Yes, as you have proven on multiple occasions," she snarked at him.

"Whatever. I wouldn't change a single thing."

Sunday, July 29, 2040 — 33 Years

"All right, I think that's everything." Veronica set her suitcase on its wheels next to the door. "What about you? Are you finally ready?"

"You know it takes time to look this good," Logan said, coming out of the bathroom with his toiletries bag. He dropped it into his suitcase and zipped it up, then spun back to her with jazz hands outstretched, eyebrows waggling. "So? How'd I do?"

She walked toward him, smiling as she wound her arms around his waist. "You look pretty good for a grandpa. Even with the fivehead, you've got a lot more hair than my dad did when Robin was born."

"I've got a lot more hair than your dad did when you were five," he retorted, wrapping his arms around her. "Probably more than he had when you were born. I don't actually know that; he's wearing a hat in any picture that I've ever seen of him when you were that little, er...young."

"Very funny. You know, you could probably get ready faster if you'd just go bald already." She raised her arm, reaching for his hair but he blocked her and frowned.

"Aren't we newlyweds again?" he asked, his nose wrinkling. "Shouldn't you be nicer to me?"

"Are you serious? Who is it you think you married?"

"I only ever marry Veronica Mars," he answered, smiling again as he leaned down to kiss her nose. "I've got a lifetime contract."

"Yes, you do." She stretched up to catch his mouth with hers and his arms tightened around her as he deepened the kiss. He pulled her off her feet and took a step back toward the bed, making her laugh against his lips.

"Lifetime contract or not, everyone is waiting on us," Veronica said, wriggling back to the ground and taking a step back from him. "Robin and Nick were very specific that we needed to leave by 11:00 AM so we have enough time to stop to feed the baby a couple of times and still get to the airport on time. She was actually kinda threatening." She chuckled. "I trained her well."

"Yes, you did."

"Actually, we both did." She caught his hands in hers, smiling up at him. "We've got great kids. And now, we've got a great granddaughter. Well, not a great-granddaughter yet, thank God, but a really great granddaughter, argh—" she growled as he laughed "—you know what I mean."

"I do know what you mean." Logan tilted his head down to rest his forehead against hers. "It's been a charmed life, hasn't it?"

She raised her hands to cup his face, eyes locked on his. "It has been. It still is. Best thing I ever did, talking you into marrying me."

He laughed. "I agree. And before that, your coming back to me so much sooner than you could have. I'm so glad being out of my life forever only translated to a week or two. Who knows what could have happened to us if you actually had a normal concept of time."

"You told me a long time ago that I was never going to be normal. See how that worked out for you?" Veronica rose up on her toes and he met her partway, open mouths pressing together. Logan pulled her up into his arms again and spun them over to the dresser, depositing Veronica on top of it, then wrapping one arm around her torso and holding her with the other so his hand could cradle the back of her head. She clutched his shoulders and wrapped her legs around his hips to pull him tightly against her. She moaned at the feel of him pressing into her, then they both jumped at a pounding at the door.

"Knock it off in there," Robin's irritated voice yelled through the door. "It's time to go. Make out on your own time."

They burst into laughter, foreheads pressed together again. "Oops?" Logan said, looking down at Veronica with his eyes twinkling. She grinned at him, then pushed him back and dropped down from the dresser. She caught his hand and pulled him toward the door.

"Let's go before she breaks the door down." She grabbed her carry-on bag and Logan reached for the handles of their suitcases. With her hand on the doorknob, she turned back and smirked at him. "We're just passengers anyway since Nick's the one who rented the car." She opened the door and he followed her into the hall. "We can make out all the way to the airport if we want." She looked up at him, raising an eyebrow and giving him a coy smile.

He leaned into her and kissed her neck, prompting her to tilt her head to give him better access even as they continued to walk to the elevator.

"You're probably aware of this by now, but I'm never saying no to that kind of offer," Logan said.

And with 52 year old LoVe still ready to jump each other at a moment's notice, Dissolutioned comes to a close. It is so weird to finally be finished with this. I started posted the Sunday Sixes in 2015 so I've been living with this story for just under two years. I can tell you now that last year's Christmas story, 'Not a Creature was Stirring' is part of this reality, occurring in Christmas 2017. I've adjusted that story to change the title to 'Dissolutioned Moments' and 'Creature' is now chapter 1 in that work. I've got another one-shot that will post as chapter 2 in 'Dissolutioned Moments' next weekend called 'Robin in Wonderland'. It's not plot-heavy; it's just another snapshot, like the epilogue vignettes. Who knows – maybe there'll be more in the future. There's lots of missing story between LoVe's anniversary vow renewal years.

Before I go, I just want to thank KMD0107 who has been an amazing beta all through this process. I could probably have done this without her but I think it would have been a lot less coherent. I really value the help and friendship she has shown me. Thanks too to Irislim who was with me at the beginning of this story and gave me a lot of encouragement. She's migrated to another fandom for now but hopefully she'll be back in the future. And finally, there have been a lot of readers who always read and commented and really cheered me on. I'm so grateful for all of that support and love. It really does make such a difference.