Disclaimer: Not mine.

Author's Note: I'm not very good at describing outfits. I'm no fashion expert, most of the time I haven't a clue about clothes except jeans and tee shirts. I tried my best to accurately describe Veronica's outfit but I'm fairly certain I didn't do it justice. So in case you want to see exactly what dress she chose I'm going to post the link to picture in my profile. I think it's something Veronica would wear, series one Veronica anyway. I hope it was the right choice, lol. Let me know what you think, reviews keep me writing :)

Later that day, long after school had let out Veronica stood before the mirror on her closet door contemplating which outfit would be most suitable for her first date with her new boyfriend.

She considered the two outfits in her hands: the first black and knee length, strapless with a black belt that circled the waist. The second dress was also strapless, the black material reaching snugly to her thighs with a black lace mesh to cover her shoulders and arms. Which one was more appropriate for a fancy date out at a fancy restaurant?

Backup lolled at her feet; tail wagging eagerly as he watch Veronica moved about the room. She had already stumbled over his body twice much to her annoyance. She was surprisingly nervous; she wanted things to be perfect. Veronica couldn't help wishing Lilly were here to offer fashion advice but considering who her date was with that would've been awkward. She knew it was silly, usually she never concerned herself much about her appearance, but tonight she wanted to impress Logan, even if it was just for one night. Maybe it was her way of rewarding him for his chivalry last night or maybe it was that tiny, insecure part of her that worried that Logan would reject her if she didn't make an effort- she was no Lilly after all- just like Duncan had once done (although Duncan had had his reasons she tried to rationalized.) For some reason though this didn't feel like a regular date that she'd had with Troy or Leo. This night felt different, special.

After finally settling upon the second dress option, deciding not to care about proper dress etiquette, she slipped it on and examined her reflection in the mirror. Veronica could imagine in her mind Lilly's whole hearted approval. 'Why do you insist on hiding your hotness?' Lilly had once asked. 'The world is ready for you Veronica Mars!' She knew that Lilly would appreciate the conscious fashion change she had made this past year. If only she could see her now, Lilly would no doubt be giddy with joy, exultant in her success.

Veronica was just clipping her hair back with a butterfly clip when the knock came at the front door. It was followed by her father's muffled greeting of their visitor and she glanced at the digital clock on her bedside table to note the time: 7:00pm. It was Logan. Veronica hurriedly gathered her purse and black leather jacket as Backup lurched to his feet and bounded to the door, barking excitedly. He was as apparently as eager to greet their guest as she was to keep Logan and Keith apart.

Her father's reaction just an hour ago, to the news that she was now dating Logan Echolls had been considerably less than enthusiastic. In fact he had seemed completely perplexed by the information.

'What happened to Leo?' he'd asked, bewildered by his daughter's rapid shift in boyfriends. It was starting to be difficult to keep track. Sometimes being a single father to a teenage girl was hard work. He missed the good old days when the only guy Veronica had been concerned with was her daddy. Life had been so much simpler back then.

'Leo is so last month.' Veronica had quipped. Literally, she'd thought, a little ruefully. She still felt guilty for treating Leo the way she had but her feelings for Logan had been too strong to ignore. She had made a choice and she hoped Leo wouldn't hold it against her.

Veronica rushed down the small hallway to the living area with Backup bounding ahead of her, his incessant barking succeeding in attracting both males attention and mercifully halting her father's interrogation.

Logan's mouth dropped open when he saw her. 'Wow,' he mouthed, temporarily stunned by her appearance. His look was nothing short of admiration and Veronica felt herself flushing under the intensity of his gaze. Nobody ever made her feel quite as beautiful as Logan did.

She flashed an admiring glance over the black suit and Logan was wearing. It was a rare event to see him looking so finely dressed but he always looked so damn handsome when he made the effort. She was reminded again of that homecoming night two years ago with the four of them. That was the last time she'd seen him so dressed up and he looked as cute now as he did then. It was amazing how much things had changed since that night.

Keith cleared his throat awkwardly and Veronica abruptly remembered that her father was still present. Oops, she thought, cringing at the realization that her father had just witnessed them both exchanging heated glances. She tore her gaze away from Logan and offered her father a tentative smile of apology. She recognized the expression on his face, a mixture of embarrassment and distaste, and she could guess that her father was fighting the serious urge to throw Logan from the apartment.

Keith turned his attention back to her boyfriend, clearly not deterred from his desire to interrogate him by her presence. 'Where are you planning on taking my daughter?' he asked.

Logan forced himself to tear his gaze away from Veronica to face Keith and address him seriously while Veronica rolled her eyes and sighed in exasperation.

'Well dad,' she interceded on Logan's behalf. 'We thought we'd check out a few clubs, get really wasted and maybe pick up a few tattoos or body piercings. You know? The usual. Then we figured we'd elope to Las Vegas. You don't mind having Logan as a son in law right?' she asked, eyes wide with seriousness.

'That's not funny Veronica.' Keith said, shaking his head. 'It's a father's prerogative to protect the virtue of his only daughter.'

'It was a little funny and I'm perfectly capable of protecting my own virtue thank you very much.' Veronica said, shooting Logan a sideways glance of amusement.

To avoid laughing out loud and truly pissing off the former sheriff as well as to distract himself from ogling said sheriff's daughter, Logan preoccupied himself with petting the inquisitive mastiff who was thrusting his wet nose eagerly into Logan's crotch.

'Backup!' Veronica scolded, struggling to contain her laughter as she attempted to pull the dog away from Logan. 'Sorry,'

'No problem.' Logan said grinning. 'It's not the first time I've had someone sniffing my crotch.'

Veronica couldn't help herself, she dissolved into giggles.

Keith frowned, unhappy by that comment but choosing thankfully to ignore it. After ascertaining their exact destination and exact evening itinerary he warned them to be back by Veronica's curfew, a newly invented ground rule just for this occasion. Veronica considered arguing over that fact; her father had never had a problem with late night stakeouts, but realized the action would be fruitless. Her father had that determined look in his eye that she recognized intimately; it was his broke-no-argument face. This would be something they'd have to debate at a later date but least his protectiveness hadn't prevented the date completely.

'Bye dad,' Veronica called as they left the apartment, 'Don't wait up.' She was fairly certain however that her father would be waiting right where she'd left him when she returned.

Logan waited until they were down the stairs and out of sight of the apartment, and her father's prying eyes, before pulling her into his embrace. His hands smoothed over the slinky material of her dress as he gazed down at her intently, devouring every minute detail of her as if it were the last time he would ever see her.

'You are so sexy.' He breathed in her ear before peppering a line of kisses down the curve of her neck. Veronica sighed in delight at the feel of his lips brushing her skin, nipping gently as he went. It had only been a few hours since she'd last seen him but it had felt so much longer. She had missed him.

'It took all my restraint not to pounce you back there,' Logan muttered against her skin. 'Think your dad would've minded?'

Veronica considered that for a moment. 'Maybe a little,' she said before drawing his face to hers for a lingering kiss.

It was while Logan was in the process of slipping his tongue into her mouth that Veronica realized that they were once again attracting curious stares, from Mr. Jameson this time, the nosy neighbour living two doors down. It appeared that a great many people were forgetting that it was actually quite rude to stare. She had no doubt that the sad little man would take the first opportunity to inform her father that he had caught his daughter with a boy's tongue down her throat. She reluctantly pushed Logan away.

'Aren't we going to be late Casanova?'

'It's just so difficult to tear myself away from you.' He gave a heavy sigh as he pulled himself away. 'You're just irresistible Mars.'

'It's the perfume.' Veronica told him solemnly as he guided her towards his car. She gave a weary sigh. 'No guy can resist it. They just swarm all over me.'

'So that's your secret?' Logan said looking thoughtful as he opened the passenger door of his Xterra for her. 'I was beginning to wonder.'

He gave a wink and a cheeky wave to two elderly women, whom Veronica vaguely recognized from the complex, who were eying him with unrestrained curiosity. Sometimes being the son of a world famous movie star must really suck.

'You need to spice up the old biddies lives somehow.' Logan explained off her look, watching as the ladies whispered conspiratorially together as they hurried past him. They shot him synchronized looks of disapproval over their shoulders. They must have heard about the bum fight thing.

Veronica gave a chuckle. 'You're gonna end up scandalizing all my neighbours aren't you?' she said, shaking her head at him as she slid into the passenger seat.

'They shouldn't be so nosy. Besides, a little scandal never hurt anyone.' He told her as he pushed her door firmly closed behind her. Veronica frowned. Clearly it had slipped Logan's mind that one particular scandal had actually been very hurtful towards her family.

As Logan moved back around the car to the driver's side Veronica's eye caught the small plastic box sitting on the console in the centre of the car. She was unable to contain her curiosity; she was Veronica Mars after all, and picking it up, opened the box to peer inside. She was amazed to see the beautiful orchid corsage lying within.

'Is this corsage for me?' she asked Logan as he slid into the car. His eyes took on a tinge of embarrassment and he looked away from her as he nodded shyly.

'This isn't prom you know,' she teased him gently but she was touched by the romantic gesture. There really were more sides to Logan than she had possibly imagined and she was discovering a new one everyday.

He gave a casual shrug. 'I thought roses would be too clichéd,' he explained softly, fiddling with his car keys with obvious discomfort.

'A girl likes a good cliché now and then.' Veronica said absently as she brought the white flower to her nose and inhaled its sweet scent.

'Just forget about it.' Logan muttered and he moved to take the flower from her. 'It was a stupid idea.'

She clasped the orchid possessively to her chest, refusing to let him remove it from her grasp. 'Don't say that.' She said. 'It's gorgeous. I love it.' She snapped the corsage firmly over her wrist.

'But it doesn't even match your outfit.' He tried to protest.

'Logan,' she said looking him in the eye, her expression serious. 'Does that honestly look like something I care about? It's a beautiful gesture and I love it,' she repeated, settling the matter. 'Thank you.'