Trapped In You (2/?) - LoVe - NC-17
Title: Trapped in You
Author: love4chemistry
Characters/Pairing: Logan/Veronica, OC Danielle. Also features others like Keith, Mac, Dick and Wallace.
Rating: NC-17, for language and sex scenes
Summary: Future fic. Veronica and Logan are reunited following a tragic death, and are left to deal with the aftermath together. Can they resolve their past issues and create a beautiful future?
Spoilers: The end of season two to be safe, but no real spoilers.
Total Word Count: 3,851
A/N: Try not to mind the Australian spelling. I try often to correct it to American, but some words slip through. This is my other WIP, I hope you like it. Thanks to all those who reviewed, and please remember to do so again. Reviews are yummy!
Disclaimer: I do NOT own anything Veronica Mars related. *crying face*
Veronica's thoughts are in italics, flashbacks and Trina's letter are in bold.
Chapter 2 - Will and Testimony
“Hey Dad,” Veronica said as she walked into his apartment, struggling under all her luggage.
“There she is! My pride and joy, chip off the old block, family jewels… okay, nix the last one. If only you were a guy,” Keith said wistfully, making his way towards his daughter.
“I’m home for less than a minute and I’m already being insulted about my gender. The feminist in me is really not liking this at all.”
He smiled as he wrapped his arms around her.
“Shut up woman and bake me some cookies!”
Veronica rolled her eyes, breaking away from her father, and then trudged up the hall with her suitcases in her hands. Keith followed her, carrying her remaining luggage.
“So, what’s the news from New York? Been involved in any bar fights, entered any boxing competitions I should know about?”
“Only the one, Dad. And I already promised I would remove all stools from the vicinity of the ring.”
“That’s my girl.”
Veronica paused, wondering whether it was a good idea to talk about what was really on her mind. What the hell, may as well.
“Actually, something interesting happened today.”
“Already? It’s only 4.30 in the morning.”
“Yeah, I know. I bumped into Logan at the airport.”
Keith didn’t reply for a while. His face lost all its amusement, and Veronica took a deep breath, praying she had made the right decision telling him.
“So,” Keith started slowly. “What happened. He didn’t do anything funny, did he?”
She almost grinned at his protective father routine that was still perfect, despite the fact that she was now 24 and lived miles away.
“No Dad. In fact, he was actually really nice. For a while anyway…”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Keith asked angrily.
“Nothing Dad. We caught up for a bit and shared a cab over here. Nothing mind blowing, but it wasn’t incredibly unpleasant either, which was a big ask considering the way we left things…”
Keith nodded, accepting her presentation of events and his anger subsided.
“How’s he dealing, with everything? It can’t be easy for him to lose another family member.”
“I honestly don’t know. He didn’t talk much about himself, or even Trina. He mentioned Danielle, but only in passing. I think he’s probably still trying to come to terms with everything.”
Keith nodded again, his face very serious.
“When is the reading of the will?”
“Tomorrow.”
Keith turned towards the door to leave.
“Honey, you should get some sleep. I’ll bet you didn’t have any last night. Why again did you have to take the red eye flight from New York?”
“It was the only flight available at such short notice. But anyway, I think I will get a bit of sleep while I can. But first - shower! No way in hell am I going to sleep with baby vomit on me.”
“Should I even ask?” Keith said with a smile.
“You really shouldn’t.”
***
Veronica lay in bed, trying to fall asleep, but so many things were preventing that from happening.
Number 1: The sun in her eyes, streaming in from the closed curtain that was not doing its job.
Number 2: The worry and anxiety she felt for Danielle. While Logan and Veronica were together, she had seen a lot of both Trina and Danielle. The little girl was the sweetest creature ever to walk the earth, in Veronica’s opinion. She had beautiful, curly, golden blonde hair and deep green eyes, possibly the only things of any value that she would eve inherit from her father. Her smile could brighten up any room, and her laugh was infectious.
In the first few years of Danielle’s life, Veronica had been a prominent figure. Trina needed all the help that she could get, as she was not born with the natural parenting instincts - shocker. Logan and Veronica would often baby-sit while Trina was auditioning for her next B-grade movie, or on a date - much to Logan’s chagrin. Veronica wondered if the four year old would still remember her. It had been two years, and she was still so young. Had she been forgotten?
The third reason why Veronica couldn’t sleep, was due to the strange encounter she had had with Logan earlier that day. The whole thing made absolutely no sense to Veronica. She had been expecting cold from the start, so his warm greeting shocked her. The way he had gone from hot to cold only fuelled her confusion. She knew she could not really blame him. He had a right to be angry at her.
But to be fair, the whole breakup could not just be blamed on her. He was just as much at fault. Logan’s eccentric nature was always a potential problem between them, and sometimes it got to be too much. He over-dramatized everything when they were together. Her rejection of his marriage proposal had sent him over the edge - though perhaps that was justified.
After that, they had both become so hostile towards each other that there was nothing left for her to do but leave.
“I can’t do this anymore Logan,” she screamed at him as she packed up some of her things that she left at his place.
“What the hell is your fucking problem? When did you become such a commitment phobe?” He questioned forcefully, following her around the room as she threw more things into her bag.
“It’s not me with the problem, Logan. It’s you! Ever since I said no, all you’ve done is bitch at me, day and night. I’m not ready to be somebody’s wife.”
“You don’t have to be somebody’s wife. You can me my wife. What could possibly be wrong with that?”
She screamed in frustration and threw the nearest thing she could find - a lamp - at his head.
“You just don’t get it, do you? I. Don’t. Want. To. Be. Your. Wife. Or any one else’s, for that matter. GOD, why the hell do you have to be so damn frustrating? Were you dropped on the head as a baby? Beaten as a child-” she stopped immediately, having realized what she said.
“Logan… I’m sor-”
“Get the fuck out Veronica,” he said with a deadly quiet, trembling with anger.
She knew she should stop, apologize again, calm him down, but she was so caught up in her own anger that all rational thought flew out the window. At that moment, she couldn’t stand looking at him.
“Fine. I’m out of here. I hope you remember me Logan. The one you drove away. Let that be a lesson to you for next time. If they say they don’t want to marry you, they DON’T want to marry you. Get the picture?”
And with that she stormed out of his house and his life.
Okay, I was a bitch. I admit it. But he deserved it too. Well, sort of.
Veronica had been plagued with guilt for months after she left. Pride kept her from picking up the phone and calling him, from asking her Dad how he was during their weekly telephone call. After everything that happened, she could not just forget.
Maybe that was why she was so surprised when he did, earlier that morning. The way they so casually slipped back into their banter almost scared her. The caring way he held her in the middle of the airport sent her heart into a flutter.
The problem was, she now had absolutely no idea how to act the next time she saw him. If she acted as though everything was fine, would he chuck a hissy fit? Most probably. But if she didn’t act like that, how did she? Should she just ignore him, glare at him through the reading. Why, oh why, could their relationship never just be simple?
Eventually, the weight of her problem helped sink her into a deep sleep.
***
The next day came around quicker than Veronica would have liked. She dressed in a classy aqua blue skirt and top ensemble, accentuating her eyes. So she didn’t know how to act around Logan; it couldn’t hurt to look nice, right?
When she arrived at the courthouse at 9am sharp, she was ushered into a small room. Instantly she noticed various other people; Logan, a lawyer, Trina’s costar on her most recent project, and Karen, who held a little girl in her arms. The girl was fussing, and Karen handed her over to Logan, who started bouncing her on his knee. Almost instantly she hushed.
Veronica smiled at Karen as a form of greeting and made her way over to Logan. She knelt infront of him as he tickled the little girl on her stomach, evoking a small giggle.
“Hello Danielle. How are you sweetie? Do you remember me? My name is Veronica.”
Danielle looked back at Logan and tucked her head into the crook of his neck. He smiled down at Danielle, tiny in his arms, gently encouraging her to turn back to Veronica.
“Ronica?” Danielle let out in a tiny voice. Veronica smiled back at her.
“Thank you all for coming today,” the lawyer’s voice broke through the quiet haze. “I realize that this business is probably the last thing on your minds considering the recent tragedy, and I am very sorry for your loss. I suggest we conduct this hearing as quickly and effectively as possible.”
They went through the proceedings with minimal fuss from Danielle. When everyone except Logan and Veronica had heard their part of the will, they were all dismissed, leaving Logan, Veronica and Danielle behind. Danielle looked so lost, caught up in all the confusion, wondering where Mommy was. Veronica was very anxious at the fact that nothing had been said about her and yet she and Logan were the only people left.
“Trina has left a letter for both of you. Logan Echolls, you have been appointed the legal guardian of Danielle Amity Echolls. I’ll give you a few minutes for you to both read your letters.”
Where do I come in to all of this? Veronica couldn’t help thinking. She had not been appointed as a guardian of Danielle, so why was she asked to come. She opened the letter given to her from Trina, reading it carefully.
Dear Veronica,
So if you’re reading this letter, I guess I’m dead. Well, go you for out-surviving me. I wasn’t going to even bother writing a will, but then I had Danielle, and things changed. I need to know that she will be well taken care of if something happens to me. I don’t want to leave her alone in the world, the way I was, in and out of foster homes. I won’t have it.
I want Logan to be her legal guardian. He is my brother, despite everything, and he has been there for me through everything with Danielle. I know he’ll be great with her, even though he’s a little crazy sometimes.
Problem is, I think Logan may be allergic to Barbie dolls. That will not do Veronica. I’ve asked that you receive visiting rights to Danielle, at least four times a week. She needs to have a female influence on her, because I don’t want her turning into some icky tomboy. No baseball caps and jeans with rips in them, got it? I seriously doubt that Logan will have a wife by now, unless it’s you, so I feel that your input is necessary.
While you two were going out, I think we became fairly close, and I know that Danni loved you. I really don’t feel close enough to any other woman to trust with my child, except you. I’m sure that despite your differences and everything that happened in the past, you and Logan can work together to provide my daughter with the tender loving care that I will not be able to.
Also, I would love it if she could take acting lessons like me! That would just be so cute, but I don’t think Logan would do that, so can you please persuade him for me?
Thank you again Veronica. You have no idea how much this means to me. Kiss my little girl goodbye for me.
Trina Echolls
***
There is my second chapter. Hope you liked it. Sorry if I got the law/court part a little wrong, but there were just no lawyers on hand for me to interrogate while I wrote this chapter. Please excuse it. Just pretend it's a make believe court ;)
Thanks for reading. Please review.