Disclaimer: Sadly, for all my wishing and hoping and thinking and praying, I don't own anything. RT is the puppet master and I promise to put them back in cabinet, just as I found them.
Spoiler Alert! Mini-spoiler for The Prestige follows. So, if you don't want to know, don't read it!

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"It's impossible that Hugh Jackman was the bad guy," Logan said forcefully as he gently guided his girlfriend toward a booth in the intimate, dimly lit café.

Veronica thew out her hands in desperation as she took her seat. "How can it be impossible when that's how the movie ended?" she reasoned. She'd made the same valid point at least seventeen times since they'd left the theater.

"Because Hugh Jackman is Wolverine and Wolverine's name is Logan. He's a good guy," Logan responded with a superior smile.

Veronica sputtered ineffectually before Logan started laughing. Finally, Veronica smiled wryly at him, "Only in your world can that possibly make sense. And, besides, it doesn't matter. That movie was very easy on the eyes, no matter who the bad guy was."

Logan clicked his tongue at her and was about to chastise her for her critique based solely on the actor's looks when they were interrupted by loud laughter from a nearby table. Veronica glanced over toward the noise, her mouth poised to make a comment, Logan was sure, about people and their lack of manners. Her mouth snapped shut and her eyes widened, much to his surprise. He turned to follow her gaze.

And there, at a table near the window as if on display for all of Neptune to see were Mac and Dick. The same Mac and Dick who didn't like one another. The same Mac and Dick who had no business in the same room together. The same Mac and Dick were now laughing over steaming mugs of coffee on a Friday night.

Logan shook his head and blinked, but sure enough, the pair remained the same. Dick and Mac. Mac and Dick. Richard and Cindy. Casablancas and Mackenzie. Together.

Logan looked back at Veronica and was greeted with a scowl. "What?" he immediately asked, raising his hands in surrender. "I didn't do it. You're my alibi."

Veronica shook her head, "I know you didn't do it. I just can't believe I missed it. You didn't know, either?"

"No idea." He pinched his arm. Then he pinched Veronica's arm.

She squawked and pulled away, "What was that for?"

He grinned sheepishly, "Just making sure this wasn't a dream. Or a nightmare."

"Or an alternate universe," Veronica added, looking back at the laughing couple.

Mac felt eyes on her and glanced toward their source. Veronica and Logan were staring at her and Dick. Instantly, her wide smile melted into an anxious frown. Dick followed her sight line and muttered, "Uh oh."

Mac watched as Veronica stood and started in their direction. Logan tried to grasp her arm as she passed him but was unsuccessful, so he stood as well.

Mac shot a look across the table. "Think we can make a run for it?" she hissed.

Dick frowned before looking back at Veronica's approach. He shook his head, "She'd just find us. We might as well face them. And, besides, we aren't hiding anything, right?"

"No," Mac answered. Just the fact that I am now on a date with my ex-boyfriend-cum-murdering rapist's brother. Who I have also slept with. Oh, God. Veronica is going to know I slept with Dick! Why can't I just evaporate? Mac's thoughts ran through her brain, pushing out all the fun she'd just had sitting across from Dick Casablancas for the better part of two hours. Despite the mental lambasting, Mac pasted a smile across her face and waited for Veronica to arrive.

"Mac," Veronica greeted. Her tone was saccharine, which Mac knew meant no-good. She turned her questioning gaze toward the blonde boy. "Dick." She said his name with the same tone she might have used if she was talking to, well, to any other dick.

Logan appeared at Veronica's side. "Fancy meeting you guys here. Isn't this just the craziest coincidence, Veronica?"

Mac nodded woodenly, "Yes. Crazy is certainly the word."

There was a pregnant pause in which the four just looked at one another, each hoping the others would speak first. Logan broke the silence, "So, you two are... You're..." he looked down at Veronica before finishing lamely, "Having coffee?"

Dick held his cup aloft with a grin, "Irish coffee, dude." He made as if to toast Veronica before taking a swig.

Mac blushed under Veronica's gaze. The blonde had all but folded her arms across her chest and wagged a finger at Mac. She knew Veronica would disapprove of even the most casual relationship with Dick. And, now, Mac feared that the girl detective knew the exact nature of their relationship.

Mac was about to speak when Logan faked a dramatic yawn. He dropped one arm across Veronica's shoulders and looked down into her face. "Gosh, honeybee, it's getting late. Maybe we should call it a night?"

"Dude, it's like nine o'clock," Dick corrected, holding his cell phone aloft, it's blue display showing the damning evidence. Mac kicked him under the table and he glared at her, rubbing his shin. "Hey! What was that for?"

Veronica rolled her eyes at Dick before saying, "Yeah, Logan, that sounds good. I have to be up early for the run Mac and I had planned. Right, Mac?"

"Run?" Mac looked blank for a moment before nodding. "Right. Because I do that."

Dick grinned. "Sweet. Maybe after your get all sweaty-" Mac kicked him again. Harder. "Ouch! That one really hurt!"

Mac smiled sweetly up at Veronica. "See you tomorrow then, bright and early."

Veronica nodded sharply and let Logan lead her back through the doors. "What in the hell was that?" she ranted as soon as the glass doors swung closed behind them.

Logan shrugged, "It looked like a date to me. But, then, I'm no expert. I usually just woo girls in my backseat."

Veronica forged on, ignoring his joke. "I mean, Dick? Really? Why?"

Logan opened he door for her and leaned inside to kiss her forehead. "I'm sure they have their reasons. And maybe it wasn't a date."

Veronica nodded, "It was a date."

Logan left it at that and closed her door, moving around to the driver's side. I guess my chances for post-movie, Veronica related bliss are shot to hell now.

The rode back to the Neptune in silence.

0o0o0o0o0

"What was all the kicking for?" Dick complained, still rubbing his sore shin.

Mac massaged her temple, keeping her eyes closed. "Why did they have to see us? Everything was going so well," she murmured.

Dick took her hand away from her head and held it his own. "It's all right. Really. They would have found out eventually, anyway."

Mac laughed harshly. "Yeah, I guess."

They stayed silent for a beat. Mac checked her watch and frowned. "I should probably get back to the dorm."

Dick's eyes glinted mischievously, "You don't really have to, you know. It is still early."

Mac looked away and then back at him with a grin. "You have any further plans for what normal people do on a Friday night?"

He kissed her fingertips and Mac blushed. He laughed and touched her cheek. "I've never seen any girl do that as much as you do." When she looked down, he lifted her face back up to meet his gaze. "I like it." She smiled, genuinely and he continue. "I totally have a few tricks up my sleeve. Can I drive?"

Mac glanced back up at him, mock terror written across her face. "I don't know. Can you?" she teased, half-seriously.

He grinned. "For it to be a surprise, I'll have to."

She stood and pulled her bag onto her shoulder, her eyes twinkling. "Well, you'll have to get my keys first," she challenged as she dashed toward the door.

Dick threw a twenty on the table and ran after her, calling after her, "No fair to dine and ditch, Mackenzie!"

Twenty minutes later, they were stretched out on an old blanket from Mac's trunk, laying under the stars on the beach. They were quiet, just holding hands and staring into the night sky.

Dick propped himself up on his elbow and looked down at her. "You're hot. Why didn't I notice that before?"

Mac cocked a brow, "I don't think you're actually supposed to say that second part aloud."

Dick shook his head, "I know. I just mean... well, why?"

"Do you want the truth? Or is this rhetorical?" At his knitted brows, Mac began, "That means-"

Dick waved off her explanation. "I know what it means. I just don't know why you'd think I wouldn't want the truth."

"Because the truth hurts," Mac replied, bluntly.

His face registered shock and she looked away. He turned her face towards him again and said gently, "Dude, that's so not true. Isn't the saying, like, the truth will set you free?"

Mac nodded before adding, "Yeah. But, first, it has to make your life suck."

"Who said that?"

"I think it was Garfield."

Dick chuckled, "That cat's funny as all hell."

"I meant the pres-" Mac began before cutting herself off. "Never mind."

"Anyway, why is it that I never noticed you until Beav-" Dick shook his head and continued, "Until Cassidy starting dating you. I mean, you like, went to our school forever, right?"

Mac nodded. At Dick's questioning stare, she asked, "Do you want the honest truth?"

Dick lifted his eyebrow, "That's what I've been asking for."

Mac looked away and studied the surf crashing to the sand. Finally, she swallowed hard and looked back at him. He was still staring intently at her.

"Because you and I live in different worlds, Dick. You're rich, I''m poor. You're all party-party and I usually have my nose buried in my laptop. And it's funny because-" Mac stopped herself. She'd almost admitted to Dick that her and Madison Sinclair had been switched at birth. And no one, save her parents, Madison's parents, the lawyers, the hospital, and Veronica knew about that. Okay, so that is a lot of people. But, I barely know Dick. I can't go telling him that. He probably wouldn't believe me. I hardly believe it!

"Because why?" Dick pressed.

"Nothing," she mumbled.

"Well, those aren't real reasons, anyway. I mean, like, I don't think any less of you 'cause your parents aren't rich. I mean, my dad lied his way into millions. At least your dad makes his money the honest way. Right? I mean, unless he's a coke dealer or something."

Mac giggled, "He'd have to be a pretty terrible coke dealer to only make what he does."

Dick laughed, "Right. And, as for the party thing, it's not, like, all I do. I read and stuff."

Mac grinned, raising an eyebrow at him.

"Okay, don't believe me. But, you're totally missing out on the millions of cheat codes I've memorized for Halo," he teased, looking away from her. When he turned back, she was faking consternation

He leaned in a kissed her right on her pouted lips. She didn't push him away, so he coaxed her back onto the blanket. Their kisses grew steadily more urgent and Mac found herself struggling to push Dick's jacket down his shoulders.

She pulled back as much as the sand would allow and studied him. His eyes glinted hungrily, but he was obviously restraining himself. "I won't if you-"

"What's that?" Mac asked, cutting him off.

"What?"

Mac laid her fingertips on a black mark on the shoulder of his shirt. Dick's cheeks flushed and her rolled over onto his back. "It's nothing."

Mac sat up and inspected the mark. It was triangular and had a row of faint circles patterned into it. "Dick? Were you ironing?"

Dick closed his eyes, "No." His answer was betrayed by the pink creeping up from his neck to his cheeks.

Mac laughed. "You were!"

Dick opened his eyes and looked up at her, biting back a grin of his own. "Ironing sucks, dude. Everything I had was wrinkled and I knew I was meeting you today and Lydia wasn't around... so I tried it."

Mac smiled "That." Kiss. "Is the sweetest thing." Kiss. "I've ever heard." Kiss.

When she pulled back, Dick grinned, "What'll you do if I tell you I don't know how the dishwasher works?"

Mac laughed and he pulled her down against him.

0o0o0o0o0

"You had sex with Dick Casablancas?" Veronica asked, incredulously. She'd almost choked on the green tea they'd been sharing during their "run." Mac was glad to find out that by "run," Veronica had meant leisurely stroll to and from Krispy Kreme.

Mac looked scandalized and looked around to make sure no one had heard Veronica's question. "I didn't say that!"

Veronica lifted an eyebrow, "But you didn't deny it."

"Damn you," Mac returned without malice.

"Hello? Detective?" Veronica reminded her friend. Veronica shook her head as if to clear it before continuing. "So, you're happy?"

Mac turned to her friend and smiled.

"That answers that," Veronica concluded.

"You're not mad?"

Veronica stopped in her tracks. "Why would I be mad?"

Mac fidgeted with her bag nervously before answering. "Because you hate Dick."

After a long look at Mac, Veronica sighed. "I don't hate him. I just... It's Beaver, I guess. I still hold Dick responsible. But, that's wrong and I know it. Other than that, Dick is just... Dick."

Mac waited for her friend to continue.

"But, if it makes you happy-" Veronica began.

"It can't be that bad?" Mac finished, hopefully.

"Ugh!" Veronica moaned, "No Sheryl Crow before noon!"

The shared a laugh and headed toward the union with their box of donuts.

0o0o0o0o0

"So, you and Mac, huh?" Logan started and he idly swirled the sludge Hearst passed off as coffee. He was really hoping that Veronica's chat was going well. He hated when she was preoccupied. Well, more preoccupied than normal.

Dick grunted something like yes as he shoveled scrambled eggs into his mouth like a starving man.

"That's cool."

Dick grunted again around his second pancake.

Male friendship was so easy sometimes.

And then, in walked two hot girls carrying donuts. Logan and Dick both grinned. A man so rarely got to see such a beautiful sight and know that both the girls and the donuts were meant for him.

0o0o0o0o0

Veronica and Logan watched as Dick and Mac walked away, arms wrapped around one another in that way the proudly proclaimed a recent foray into coupledom.

"Things are good?" Logan ventured, licking his fingers suggestively in his girlfriend's general direction.

"As good as they're going to get in Bizarro World, I guess."

Logan lifted his eyebrows. "How are Mac and Dick any stranger than you and I?"

Veronica turned her gaze to him. She grinned as she swiped an errant bit of glaze from his lip. "Good point."

Logan feigned surprise and then mimed making a note on an invisible pad of paper. "October 16, 2006. Veronica Mars verbally recognizes that I, Logan Echolls, have made a good point."

Veronica batted his hands away and kissed him. "Mmmm," she sighed, "You taste all sweet and sticky."

"That's not half as sticky as things could get-" Logan began.

Veronica pressed her fingers to his mouth and shook her head. "Don't finish that."

Logan's lips curved into a wicked smile and he grasped the petite blonde around the waist. He hoisted her onto his shoulder and made for his Range Rover.

"What are you doing?" she squealed through her laughter.

"Wooing you, my dear Veronica. And this time, you're not getting out of it."

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A/N: I also don't own The Prestige, X-Men, Garfield, Halo, Krispy Kreme, "If It Makes You Happy" by Sheryl Crow, or Land Rover.

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