Fic: Trial by Fire Logan/Veronica PG-13
Title: Trial by Fire
Author: MetChick01
Pairing/Character: LoVe, Keith, Cliff, and others
Word Count:2862
Rating:PG-13 for now; NC-17 in later chapters
Summary: What if the one thing you knew for sure was wrong?
Spoilers: AU S3 mid way through "Show me the Monkey"
Warnings: Some bad words here and there,also some Piz bashing in future parts...
Disclaimer: I do not own or claim to own any thing or character from VM.
Here's part 2, THANK YOU again to everyone that replied in the last chapter. You guys really know how to boost a girl's ego! Again I'd like to send a big shout out of thanks to my betas: dragynflies and frozenmolasses!
Part 2
“She left them to you in her will. The kids have their own trust fund, and you get your mother’s money. It seems Laura had a substantial life insurance policy.”
“Why aren’t they staying with their father?” Logan stammered, overwhelmed.
“From what I can tell he went AWOL with some tart in 2005. Soon after Laura drafted her will and he still can’t be found. We can do some digging but it may take a while.”
“Then what happens next. You can’t expect me to take them. I can’t take them.”
“Logan, I know that you are young and in no means ready to be a parent, but you are the only family that these kids have left. If you don’t take them, they will become wards of the State unless they find their father.”
Blood relative. Logan thought he was out of those, with Charlie’s rebuff and Aaron’s death; he had resigned in the fact that he was utterly alone. A cold hard truth for 19 year old. Let alone a…
“How old are they?”
“Ethan is 6 and Emma is 5 months.”
Could he do this?
“And they are on their way as we speak so you need to shower and I will call the maids.”
I guess that was the answer. Trial by fire.
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When Logan came out of the bathroom he was freshly showered and more sober than he had been in a week. Nothing like forced fatherhood to do that to you.
“When are they going to get here?” Logan began, “What’s the plan?”
“Well first: All the booze has to go or I should say the empty containers. I also called the front desk and they are sending up a crib. You are showered now so that’s a big step. We can’t have you scaring the kids with your smell.”
“Har har, so who is bringing them? I thought you said they didn’t have anyone.”
“I said that they didn’t have any blood relatives. Laura’s best friend is bringing them. Let me prepare you: she is not happy.”
“Why?”
“You mean besides losing her best friend? She wants to keep the kids herself. But Laura didn’t name her as a guardian; she is the executor of Laura’s will so she is just doing her duty.”
“What’s her deal? Who is she?”
“She is Laura’s next door neighbor and best friend for some time; she’s like an aunt to the children. She is a little bit older than you and she is in school still, something in the medical field, I think. She was rather short on the phone, but she said they should be landing at the airport at 2pm. I’ve sent a limo to pick them up so maybe she’ll be in a better mood when you two meet.”
“It’s 12pm now. What else do we need to go over? I don’t suppose your legal talents stretch to the trials of fatherhood.”
“No, they don’t but what I can help you with is the custody matters and what your next moves should be. Family law is not my usual cup of tea but I know enough. First, no more drinking. Second, ditch the frat boy roommate, Nothing screams irresponsible like having Dick Casablancas as your bunk buddy.”
“Ok, so no booze and I’m assuming no floozies, and No Dick. Anything else?”
"I would encourage you to purchase your own home. You have the money to do so and It’s time to grow up, Peter Pan. This isn’t a place for children or for you either.”
“Check, Make adult-like purchases. I guess that cotton candy machine was a poor choice.” Logan said, trying to lighten the mood.
“Also, you need to start planning out the day to day stuff. School, bills, child care and scheduling. And it wouldn’t be a bad idea to start to see a psychiatrist…”
“A WHAT??”
“Come on Logan, we both know you have a knack for trouble finding you. And drinking away your problems can’t be your sole coping device. You will have children now.”
It was all starting to get way too heavy. The reality and scope of his up coming responsibility started to really sink in. No more fooling around, time to grow up and fast.
Cliff, noticing Logan’s glazed over look he thought a distraction was in order.
“Since the maids are still cleaning and we still have some time why don’t we order some lunch and then we can go over your school schedule together.”
“Sounds like a plan Cliff, don’t tell me, it’s a bill-able lunch.”
“I knew there was a reason I liked you kid!”
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After a quiet lunch and time spent going over Logan’s class schedule, they were able to make sense of how his college life would be from now on. Weight lifting out, as well as two of his other fluff classes, but the majors, sociology, psychology, English lit, and economics stayed.
With the changes, his afternoons were open and save for 1 night class, his evenings open. His basic schedule consisted of class between 11am-2pm almost every day and Thursdays 6-8pm.
“You’re going to need a nanny; did you need me to contact a service for you?”
“No I think I may have that covered but I’ll let you know if I need your help.”
Knock, Knock.
This was it, Logan’s personal boat load of responsibility. Swallowing nervously, he nodded at Cliff to answer the door.
“Here we go.”
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An overburdened woman greeted them as they opened the door. The first thing Logan noticed was she was young, very young. A little older?! Try maybe 2 or 3 years older. he thought, and she thinks she is ready to raise them?
She was blond, tall and put together nicely. Frankly, she was beautiful but the stress was weighing her down. She casually blew the bangs out of her eyes and said, “Are you two just going to stand there or can I come in?”
That’s when noticed what she was carrying. A little boy, fast asleep in her arms. He had brown hair and was dress comfortably in a t-shirt and jeans. Then Logan took note of what she was pushing, a baby stroller.
Cliff motioned for her to come in.
She whispered, “Where can I put them down? They both fell asleep in the limo on the ride over.”
Logan silently walked her to the guest room, Dick’s old room.
He watched as she carefully set Ethan on the bed and pulled a throw over him. She gingerly kissed him on the forehead and went about extracting the baby from her carriage. The baby, Emma, was settled in the crib next to the bed. Logan realized this would be his job from now on. School, play dates, meals, baths, and bed time was all his duty now.
She took notice of Logan’s pensive face and motioned from him to follow her out of the bedroom.
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She quietly closed the doors and went to sit on the couch. Logan wisely followed suit.
She began, “I’m Allyson Gerry, Ally preferably. I’m sure you have a lot of questions and hopefully I can answer them. I also want to help you with the kids. I’ve…” She pulled her laptop out of her bag “made a schedule, bed times, nap times, and Emma’s schedule. I’ve wrote down all their info, foods they like, toys, and what the rules were in Laura’s house. I’ve prepared it for you as a guide line but I know you will have to find your own way.”
Cliff asked “Why don’t you tell us about Laura? I’m sure Logan has a lot of questions…”
Logan nodded.
“Well, she was my best friend, my mother and I moved next door to her about five years ago. Laura came over and introduced herself. She was warm, gentle and funny. When she saw me she said, ‘Cool! Instant babysitter.’ ” Ally said with bitter sweet smile.
“I had just turned 18 and I was still trying to figure out what I wanted to do. So needless to say I was over at her house helping with the baby all the time. Laura and I became fast friends, we would do everything together. If I wasn’t over at her house then she was at our house. Her and Josh were going through a rocky time and he was always away on business, even when he was home, he might as well been away.”
She continued, “So when Laura told me that they were separating, needless to say I wasn’t surprised. Ethan was 4 at the time. He was, is so sweet, he took the break up pretty well considering. He somehow knew that it was better for his parents to be apart. A couple of months later, I dropped in to take Ethan to the park for Laura and I saw she had the TV on and she was crying, then I noticed what she was watching. ‘Lynn Echolls commits suicide’ was splashed across the screen. I left Ethan with my mother and then I went to comfort her. She uh, never really talked about her family, but from what I had gleaned was her parents were dead and she did hint at a sibling but never mentioned by name.”
Ally cleared her throat “When I ah, went back to Laura’s she was sobbing uncontrollably, I held her as she cried, then she told me, Lynn was her sister. I was beyond shocked needless to say. Then the story just poured out of her. She and Lynn were far apart in age, Lynn left to go to Hollywood when she was 19 Laura was 10. Lynn married Aaron a couple of years later. Laura hadn’t met him and it seems that Lynn was keeping him from her family. Laura was too young to realize at the time what was going on but the sisters kept in touch, they sent letters and post cards to each other. Laura kept the news clippings of her sister’s success and they talked on the phone when they could. Then you were born, Lynn I guess sent pictures and video of you and her, to Laura and their dad but for some reason, they never met you.”
“I brought those letters and tapes for you if you liked them”
“Yes I would” Logan said quietly, the first time he had spoke in a while.
“So then Laura let the bomb drop, when their father past away, I guess you were pretty little at the time, Aaron threatened Lynn. He was doing well in his career and he had what he thought was his perfect little family, He Didn’t want to add a orphan teenager to the mix. Lynn did what she had to. She snuck away with you to visit Laura. The deal was that Lynn would pay for Laura’s boarding school and provide for her but it had to be done in absolute secrecy. For her safety and for yours I assume.”
That clicked in Logan’s memory, he didn’t remember the trip but when they had returned that’s when it had started, the abuse. He had run around the house when they got back and Aaron dished out a black eye for his excitement.
“So, Laura changed her name, they stopped their letters exchange. Lynn kept funneling money into Laura’s name. Maybe in the hopes that one day she might be able to get away from Aaron’s grasp. Laura knew she couldn’t contact you or Lynn for your safety but in the mean time it broke her heart. But she held on to the hope that one day they might be reunited. Then with your mother’s death it broke her heart. Laura was no longer a minor but yet she didn’t move to contact you two for fear of what your father may have done. I think the guilt ate at her, she was married and a mother but she still didn’t have the nerve to contact Lynn before it had happened.”
“So that it explains why I didn’t know her while I was growing up but why didn’t she contact me after Aaron’s arrest? Where was she then?”
“She tried. After your mother’s death she tried to contact you but with Aaron’s security and a celebrity’s group of hired hands it was difficult to get to you without alerting Aaron to her inquires. That’s where I came in, I made phone call after phone call, browsed countless web sites trying to get reliable information. Laura had your old address or I should say one of your addresses in LA but it was over 10 years old. She sent out a letter to that address and to your mother’s management firm. Both were returned to her. I personally sent out inquires to no avail. A couple of months had passed, Aaron was arrested and so were you. She sent tried to send a letter for you to the Neptune sheriff’s office but I’m guessing you never got it. Around this time Josh came back into the picture and they were trying to reconcile. So I kept up the search, I tracked down your Neptune address and sent out a copy of Laura’s letter but it was returned three weeks later.”
The arson on his home took care of that no doubt, oddly even though Laura and in turn Ally were never able to reach him then it gave him comfort in the fact that even in that awful year when he was at his lowest, they had still care, still strived to find him. Maybe if they had been able to reach him, he wouldn’t have sunk so low. So low that he was still dealing with its effects.
“Laura discovered she was pregnant again and of course Josh took off again. Since she couldn’t find you or him for that matter, she threw herself into motherhood and work. Her students loved her and I think it provided comfort that she was able to give back to others.”
“What grade did she teach?”
“5th grade, when I first met her I was her TA for extra cash. I would sit and watch her teach and I would laugh on the inside. She was like two different people at home she was fun, energetic and light hearted especially with her kids, in the class room she was all business, still all of those things but more muted, focused. I used to joke with her that if she had been my teacher I would have sic’d my mother on her. We would laugh but in all seriousness I knew her students loved her as their teacher and respected the lesson she taught them.” Noticing Logan’s glazed over look. “I’m sure this boring you…” Ally trailed off.
“No, No it’s not.” All of this information was starting to sink in and it was starting to become too much. She wasn’t just some woman now, she was my aunt and she cared.
“Ok, well I’m sure you’re wondering what happened to her? She uh, was driving home from work and, oh god…” She was overcome with tears, Logan quietly offer her a tissue. “Thank you,” Ally cleared her throat and then continued. “It was icy out and this pickup truck lost control and smashed into the driver’s side. Laura was killed instantly. Thankfully the kids weren’t with her.”
Logan felt the need to comfort this woman, wanted to hug her but since her didn’t know her well enough, he settled on a gentle pat on her back.
“Since my mother and I were like her family and I still didn’t know how to contact you, we started to get Laura’s affairs in order, She had already made all the necessary arrangements like her will, assigning her pension, and life insurance. We had her funeral on a Tuesday. I still didn’t know what she had decided to do with the kids or what she had wanted done in her will.” Ally reached into her bag and produced a thick file like what Cliff had presented him earlier. “It’s all in there.”
“So how does this work? Did she ever mention why she would have done this?”
“No, she left a letter for you in her will but I didn’t open it. A part of me was crushed when I found out she hadn’t left Ethan and Emma to me. But then the rational part of my brain took over, I was only 21 at the time that she had it drafted and I was in school full time. Then again I was still older than you so…”
“Maybe the letter might explain it?” Logan offered.
“Hopefully. The kids got the bulk of her insurance policy and they have her pension. Laura did leave me some money as well but all of your mother’s money she returned to you. As for the house and other items it’s for you and me to decide. I brought a lot of the kids’ things with us but there is still a lot to decide on.”
“Where do you think we should start?” Logan questioned. There was just some much to deal with. Ally’s been dealing with it for awhile, It’s my turn now. For better or for worse.
TBC....
Side note: In a perfect world, I would see Katherine Hiegl playing Ally so please think of her when you are reading the character. Also, please send feedback, it makes me and my muse write faster!