Fic: Five Envelopes (Luke/Veronica, Duncan/Veronica PG 13)
Title: Five Envelopes
Author: babsonite
Pairing/Character: Luke/Veronica, Duncan/Veronica
Word Count: 2400
Rating: PG-13, for language and sex
Spoilers/Warnings: Season 1
Summary: This is written for the TWoP AU challenge. Set about a month after High School graduation. Duncan got sent to boarding school after Homecoming. Lilly’s alive and still with Logan, Veronica’s still popular and was never raped, Keith is still Sheriff and Lianne never left town.
A/N: Thank you so much to RedFlora and rachel_shanz. You guys both stepped up to this gigantic piece, and did awesome jobs. Feedback greatly appreciated!
X-posted to veronicamarsfic
“Happy six-month anniversary, baby,” Luke said, his mouth finding hers. After exchanging presents and having a beautiful picnic on the beach, the evening had naturally turned to sex. They had just started when Veronica’s phone rang. They ignored the first two calls, but by the third Veronica pushed Luke off her.
“Shit!” She exclaimed, “That’s my dad’s ring.” She knew better than to ignore it three times; since her dad was sheriff, he could easily track cell phones. Luke rolled his eyes but stayed silent while Veronica picked it up. “Hi dad, there’s bad service here so-” Luke couldn’t make out what her dad was saying, but his voice sounded urgent. “Omigod,” Veronica started shaking, “What happened? Is mom all right?” Veronica’s voice was now panicked. “I’ll be right home,” she said, slamming her phone shut. She turned to Luke and squeaked, “My mom's dead,” before collapsing in tears into his arms."
It wasn’t unexpected. Veronica was surprised how little her mother’s death actually hurt. After the initial shock, she realized that her mom had been drinking herself into oblivion since Veronica started high school. And the drinking had increased exponentially since she had graduated one month ago. Was this her mom’s way of committing suicide?
Veronica begged her dad to let her see the scene of the accident. She needed to know it was real. As soon as she got near the car she could smell the alcohol. She turned coolly to her dad, “Hitting a tree is an accident. Wrapping your car around a tree with an off the record BAC, that’s on purpose.” With that she spun away from the scene and decided that she was happy the mess she called her mother was gone.
Many of her mom’s old college friends called with kind words, or sent flowers and other gifts. Veronica usually put on a sad face, and made them think she was devastated, while screaming on the inside. Why should she care about the stories these fake mourners would say about her mom? One of them was different, though; Adrianna, her mom’s college roomate, didn't try to sympathize with Veronica. She simply woke Veronica up the morning after Lianne’s death and gave her a cardboard box. Then she whispered, “For your eyes only!” and left just as fast as she had come. After staring at the box for an hour, Veronica took a peak inside.
Veronica took a quick survey of everything in the box. She knew her dad would be out for awhile, so she spread everything around her room. There were five business envelopes, labeled with simple block letters. She opened them up and looked at their contents one by one.
Envelope 1: A letter from her mom.
To my baby Veronica- I’m sorry that my lie affected you the way it did. Had I known that you would start dating Duncan Kane, I never would have bothered to make sure you get a piece of the Kane fortune.
I guess I should start from the beginning. Jake Kane and I were high school sweethearts, and though we both married other people, we were still in love. He ended up hitting it big, while Keith always managed an average salary. I continued my affair with Jake, and when I found out I was pregnant, I told him that it was his. I always knew you were Keith’s though, and I have a paternity test to prove it (in Envelope 2). But Jake has been sending me hush money for years, so I wouldn’t file a paternity suit against him.
Jake and I never told Celeste or Keith about you, and we decided it was better to let you and Duncan go out rather than try to break you up and have the whole scandal explode. It was working out fine, until Celeste found out about your “paternity” at the beginning of your sophomore year. She was going to tell Duncan, but Jake thought it would be better if he didn’t know, but had to break up with you because of circumstance. They enrolled him in The American School of Paris, and made sure you guys had no contact
I love you honey, and I’m sorry about everything.
Love,
Mom
Veronica was appalled. She remembered the pain she had felt when Duncan left; her heart had never really recovered. “Who else knew?” she wondered aloud. Surely Lilly had to have known - she encouraged Veronica to move on, insisted Duncan wasn’t right for her. Did her dad know Lianne was cheating on him? Veronica skipped the second envelope, and ripped open the third.
Envelope 3: Duncan’s letters
Veronica had never seen these before. There were nineteen letters, from nineteen consecutive days. The first letter was from the day he left, and he had written her every day after that. They were all unopened, so at least Lianne had the decency to not read her private mail, though it would have been decent not to steal them in the first place. Veronica opened the first one.
Hey baby,
My dad has just informed me that I got into the American School of Paris. Unfortunately the semester started a couple of weeks ago, and I am way behind so I have to leave immediately. My parents took away my cell phone because it’s no use in Paris, but they told me that they would deliver this letter. This is a great opportunity for me, and I hope you won’t be too lonely! I’ll be home in about a month for Fall Break, and we’ll spend every day together! I have to go now, but I love you and I’ll write a more detailed letter later!
Love Duncan
Veronica skipped over the next seventeen letters, and opened the last one.
I didn’t know. I guess you know, and that’s why you haven’t been sending any letters back. I don’t think I’m coming home now, at least not until the summer. I won’t be contacting you anymore, it’s probably better that I’m here. -Duncan
Veronica didn’t realize that she had been crying. Duncan had been shipped away so they couldn’t be together anymore just because her mom was a lying bitch. She even picked up the phone, her first thought to contact Duncan, before stopping herself with the realization there might be still more to learn from the remaining envelopes. Replacing the phone, she sat back down to finish going through the envelopes.
Envelope 4: The pictures
Veronica took out seven pictures of herself. She was the center of every frame, with a target around her head. They started pretty recently, the first was of Luke and her dancing at prom. There was one of her talking to her mom at a restaurant from the day before graduation, one of her in her cap and gown, and other seemingly random images. The most recent was from a week ago. There was a note underneath all the pictures.
Stop blackmailing my husband and get out of town. Or else.
“Did Celeste Kane drive my mom to suicide?” Veronica questioned. Celeste was a bitch, and undoubtedly hated both Veronica and her mother, but was she a murderer? The note didn’t say she wanted her dead, only that she wanted her gone. Veronica made a mental note to look into it later. Meanwhile, there was one more envelope to open.
Envelope 5: The Key
This envelope only had a key and a note. The note was pretty basic.
Here is my safety deposit box key. Bring this and my death certificate to the address on this note for all the money Jake Kane ever gave me. Consider it your real trust fund.
Veronica checked her watch and realized her dad would be home soon. She gathered all the envelopes and put them in the box under her bed. She’d contemplate all the information later, but for now she was playing the role of supportive daughter.
The next day was her mother’s funeral. She and Keith stood in the front, both with the same look of sadness and stress. Neither cried; Keith was too busy thinking of ways to cover up Lianne’s drunk accident, and Veronica was too busy pondering the contents of the box. After the funeral, Lianne’s attorney asked Keith to review the will, while Veronica was comforted by her friends. Lilly and Logan were first. Then Luke wrapped her in his arms, and held on to her. She rested her head on his shoulder, and for an instant she thought she saw Duncan. She gasped audibly, startling Luke, so she hastily began to cry to prevent him from saying anything. When she looked back up, Duncan was gone.
Luke took her home and walked her inside. “Do you want me to stay over tonight?” He asked. Veronica raised her eyebrow and looked at him. “No, not like that!” Luke clarified, “I’ll be here if you want to talk, or just cuddle or something.”
Veronica laughed and hugged him. “I’d love it, but I don’t think the shotgun owner down the hall would approve,” Veronica said sincerely.
Suddenly her dad popped into the front room, “Veronica, I’ve got to take care of some things tonight. I know it seems like that’s all I’m doing nowadays, but I can’t get out of it.” Keith turned to Luke, “And it would be great if you could stay over with Veronica tonight, but I want you sleeping out here on the couch.” Luke nodded his understanding, and Veronica gave her dad a kiss goodbye. Once he left, Luke and Veronica went up to her room. She was reaching for the buttons on his shirt when her earlier vision of Duncan at the graveyard flashed in her mind.
“Um, I’m kinda tired baby,” Veronica faked a yawn. “Can we reschedule for tomorrow?”
Luke tried to not look disappointed as he headed for the door. He lingered for a moment, waiting for Veronica to call him back, but she didn’t, so he went back to the living room to sleep. Veronica put on pajamas and got into her bed, but she knew she wasn’t going to sleep. She hadn’t slept since she read her mom’s letters.
She must have drifted off into semi-consciousness, because she was awaken by a light tapping on her window. At first she considered calling Luke to her, but changed her mind and walked over. She opened her window, and suddenly lost any ability to talk. “W-w-what, um, what are, what are you doing, um here?” was all she could get out.
“Sorry about your mom, Veronica,” Duncan said, his voice sounded rehearsed. “I heard, and I felt like I needed to be here for you.” He looked away from her and muttered, “So, uh, Can I come in?”
Veronica stepped aside and gestured for him to come in. “How did you get here from-wait, where were you?” She congratulated herself on managing to regain her composure - well, somewhat.
“I’ve been spending my summers in D.C., interning for various politicians,” Duncan told her as he climbed in the window. “But Logan told me what happened, and I came straight here.”
“Oh, I guess we have a lot to talk about,” Veronica said, trying to prevent an awkward silence.
Duncan picked up on it, “Yeah, so you and I are actually-”
Veronica cut him off, “No, we’re not. My mom is a piece of shit who used your dad for his money. I have a paternity test proving that my dad is MY dad!”
“How come you waited until now to tell me all this?” Duncan’s voice got louder, “And how come you never responded to my letters? Why did everyone else from fucking Neptune try to contact me except you? And why have you spent the past two and a half years dating my old friends?” Duncan was yelling by now, and Veronica thought she heard Luke stirring in the other room. She had to do something to get him to shut up. Thinking quickly, she kissed him. All the rage that had just filled him melted away, and he returned the kiss passionately.
After almost a minute Veronica pulled away. She walked over to the box, and started taking all the envelopes out. She explained as she went along, “I just found out about the whole situation yesterday. I mean, I thought all this time, you were the one not contacting me, but my mom was actually withholding all the letters you sent me. She wanted me to forget about you.” Veronica saw the pain in Duncan’s look, so she continued, “But I couldn’t forget about you. Lilly was the one who suggested I date other guys. It’s not like any of the relationships have been serious; Troy was a drug dealer, Dick was a dick, and Casey joined a cult.” She purposely left out Luke, hoping Duncan wouldn’t know that they had gotten semi-serious.
Duncan laughed and kissed Veronica’s forehead. “You don’t really have the best luck with relationships, now do you?” He joked.
She started laughing too. “This is nice,” she said.
“What’s nice?” Duncan responded, brushing his fingers against her cheek.
“Laughing again,” Veronica looked into Duncan’s eyes, “I’ve missed you so much.”
“He sat down next to her and stroked her hair, “I’ve missed you too.”
Their lips met once more. Duncan pulled Veronica onto his lap, and his mouth trailed down to Veronica’s neck. “Will you stay this time?” Veronica asked, in between kisses.
Duncan pulled back for a moment to answer, “They’d have to kill me to make me leave you again!” Veronica kissed him fiercely, and he kissed her back just as hard. Everything between them felt so natural, like he had never gone. Veronica was surprised about how nervous and excited she felt whenever Duncan touched her. She knew the next day would be tough; she'd have to end things with Luke, admit her mother's affair and the paternity question to her dad, return all the money to Jake Kane, and find out if Celeste drove her mother to kill herself. It wasn't going to be easy, straightening out the mess her mother had left behind - but Duncan was back and in her arms, and they weren't about to let go of each other again.
Five envelopes slid to the floor, forgotten. For now.
Author: babsonite
Pairing/Character: Luke/Veronica, Duncan/Veronica
Word Count: 2400
Rating: PG-13, for language and sex
Spoilers/Warnings: Season 1
Summary: This is written for the TWoP AU challenge. Set about a month after High School graduation. Duncan got sent to boarding school after Homecoming. Lilly’s alive and still with Logan, Veronica’s still popular and was never raped, Keith is still Sheriff and Lianne never left town.
A/N: Thank you so much to RedFlora and rachel_shanz. You guys both stepped up to this gigantic piece, and did awesome jobs. Feedback greatly appreciated!
X-posted to veronicamarsfic
“Happy six-month anniversary, baby,” Luke said, his mouth finding hers. After exchanging presents and having a beautiful picnic on the beach, the evening had naturally turned to sex. They had just started when Veronica’s phone rang. They ignored the first two calls, but by the third Veronica pushed Luke off her.
“Shit!” She exclaimed, “That’s my dad’s ring.” She knew better than to ignore it three times; since her dad was sheriff, he could easily track cell phones. Luke rolled his eyes but stayed silent while Veronica picked it up. “Hi dad, there’s bad service here so-” Luke couldn’t make out what her dad was saying, but his voice sounded urgent. “Omigod,” Veronica started shaking, “What happened? Is mom all right?” Veronica’s voice was now panicked. “I’ll be right home,” she said, slamming her phone shut. She turned to Luke and squeaked, “My mom's dead,” before collapsing in tears into his arms."
It wasn’t unexpected. Veronica was surprised how little her mother’s death actually hurt. After the initial shock, she realized that her mom had been drinking herself into oblivion since Veronica started high school. And the drinking had increased exponentially since she had graduated one month ago. Was this her mom’s way of committing suicide?
Veronica begged her dad to let her see the scene of the accident. She needed to know it was real. As soon as she got near the car she could smell the alcohol. She turned coolly to her dad, “Hitting a tree is an accident. Wrapping your car around a tree with an off the record BAC, that’s on purpose.” With that she spun away from the scene and decided that she was happy the mess she called her mother was gone.
Many of her mom’s old college friends called with kind words, or sent flowers and other gifts. Veronica usually put on a sad face, and made them think she was devastated, while screaming on the inside. Why should she care about the stories these fake mourners would say about her mom? One of them was different, though; Adrianna, her mom’s college roomate, didn't try to sympathize with Veronica. She simply woke Veronica up the morning after Lianne’s death and gave her a cardboard box. Then she whispered, “For your eyes only!” and left just as fast as she had come. After staring at the box for an hour, Veronica took a peak inside.
Veronica took a quick survey of everything in the box. She knew her dad would be out for awhile, so she spread everything around her room. There were five business envelopes, labeled with simple block letters. She opened them up and looked at their contents one by one.
Envelope 1: A letter from her mom.
To my baby Veronica- I’m sorry that my lie affected you the way it did. Had I known that you would start dating Duncan Kane, I never would have bothered to make sure you get a piece of the Kane fortune.
I guess I should start from the beginning. Jake Kane and I were high school sweethearts, and though we both married other people, we were still in love. He ended up hitting it big, while Keith always managed an average salary. I continued my affair with Jake, and when I found out I was pregnant, I told him that it was his. I always knew you were Keith’s though, and I have a paternity test to prove it (in Envelope 2). But Jake has been sending me hush money for years, so I wouldn’t file a paternity suit against him.
Jake and I never told Celeste or Keith about you, and we decided it was better to let you and Duncan go out rather than try to break you up and have the whole scandal explode. It was working out fine, until Celeste found out about your “paternity” at the beginning of your sophomore year. She was going to tell Duncan, but Jake thought it would be better if he didn’t know, but had to break up with you because of circumstance. They enrolled him in The American School of Paris, and made sure you guys had no contact
I love you honey, and I’m sorry about everything.
Love,
Mom
Veronica was appalled. She remembered the pain she had felt when Duncan left; her heart had never really recovered. “Who else knew?” she wondered aloud. Surely Lilly had to have known - she encouraged Veronica to move on, insisted Duncan wasn’t right for her. Did her dad know Lianne was cheating on him? Veronica skipped the second envelope, and ripped open the third.
Envelope 3: Duncan’s letters
Veronica had never seen these before. There were nineteen letters, from nineteen consecutive days. The first letter was from the day he left, and he had written her every day after that. They were all unopened, so at least Lianne had the decency to not read her private mail, though it would have been decent not to steal them in the first place. Veronica opened the first one.
Hey baby,
My dad has just informed me that I got into the American School of Paris. Unfortunately the semester started a couple of weeks ago, and I am way behind so I have to leave immediately. My parents took away my cell phone because it’s no use in Paris, but they told me that they would deliver this letter. This is a great opportunity for me, and I hope you won’t be too lonely! I’ll be home in about a month for Fall Break, and we’ll spend every day together! I have to go now, but I love you and I’ll write a more detailed letter later!
Love Duncan
Veronica skipped over the next seventeen letters, and opened the last one.
I didn’t know. I guess you know, and that’s why you haven’t been sending any letters back. I don’t think I’m coming home now, at least not until the summer. I won’t be contacting you anymore, it’s probably better that I’m here. -Duncan
Veronica didn’t realize that she had been crying. Duncan had been shipped away so they couldn’t be together anymore just because her mom was a lying bitch. She even picked up the phone, her first thought to contact Duncan, before stopping herself with the realization there might be still more to learn from the remaining envelopes. Replacing the phone, she sat back down to finish going through the envelopes.
Envelope 4: The pictures
Veronica took out seven pictures of herself. She was the center of every frame, with a target around her head. They started pretty recently, the first was of Luke and her dancing at prom. There was one of her talking to her mom at a restaurant from the day before graduation, one of her in her cap and gown, and other seemingly random images. The most recent was from a week ago. There was a note underneath all the pictures.
Stop blackmailing my husband and get out of town. Or else.
“Did Celeste Kane drive my mom to suicide?” Veronica questioned. Celeste was a bitch, and undoubtedly hated both Veronica and her mother, but was she a murderer? The note didn’t say she wanted her dead, only that she wanted her gone. Veronica made a mental note to look into it later. Meanwhile, there was one more envelope to open.
Envelope 5: The Key
This envelope only had a key and a note. The note was pretty basic.
Here is my safety deposit box key. Bring this and my death certificate to the address on this note for all the money Jake Kane ever gave me. Consider it your real trust fund.
Veronica checked her watch and realized her dad would be home soon. She gathered all the envelopes and put them in the box under her bed. She’d contemplate all the information later, but for now she was playing the role of supportive daughter.
The next day was her mother’s funeral. She and Keith stood in the front, both with the same look of sadness and stress. Neither cried; Keith was too busy thinking of ways to cover up Lianne’s drunk accident, and Veronica was too busy pondering the contents of the box. After the funeral, Lianne’s attorney asked Keith to review the will, while Veronica was comforted by her friends. Lilly and Logan were first. Then Luke wrapped her in his arms, and held on to her. She rested her head on his shoulder, and for an instant she thought she saw Duncan. She gasped audibly, startling Luke, so she hastily began to cry to prevent him from saying anything. When she looked back up, Duncan was gone.
Luke took her home and walked her inside. “Do you want me to stay over tonight?” He asked. Veronica raised her eyebrow and looked at him. “No, not like that!” Luke clarified, “I’ll be here if you want to talk, or just cuddle or something.”
Veronica laughed and hugged him. “I’d love it, but I don’t think the shotgun owner down the hall would approve,” Veronica said sincerely.
Suddenly her dad popped into the front room, “Veronica, I’ve got to take care of some things tonight. I know it seems like that’s all I’m doing nowadays, but I can’t get out of it.” Keith turned to Luke, “And it would be great if you could stay over with Veronica tonight, but I want you sleeping out here on the couch.” Luke nodded his understanding, and Veronica gave her dad a kiss goodbye. Once he left, Luke and Veronica went up to her room. She was reaching for the buttons on his shirt when her earlier vision of Duncan at the graveyard flashed in her mind.
“Um, I’m kinda tired baby,” Veronica faked a yawn. “Can we reschedule for tomorrow?”
Luke tried to not look disappointed as he headed for the door. He lingered for a moment, waiting for Veronica to call him back, but she didn’t, so he went back to the living room to sleep. Veronica put on pajamas and got into her bed, but she knew she wasn’t going to sleep. She hadn’t slept since she read her mom’s letters.
She must have drifted off into semi-consciousness, because she was awaken by a light tapping on her window. At first she considered calling Luke to her, but changed her mind and walked over. She opened her window, and suddenly lost any ability to talk. “W-w-what, um, what are, what are you doing, um here?” was all she could get out.
“Sorry about your mom, Veronica,” Duncan said, his voice sounded rehearsed. “I heard, and I felt like I needed to be here for you.” He looked away from her and muttered, “So, uh, Can I come in?”
Veronica stepped aside and gestured for him to come in. “How did you get here from-wait, where were you?” She congratulated herself on managing to regain her composure - well, somewhat.
“I’ve been spending my summers in D.C., interning for various politicians,” Duncan told her as he climbed in the window. “But Logan told me what happened, and I came straight here.”
“Oh, I guess we have a lot to talk about,” Veronica said, trying to prevent an awkward silence.
Duncan picked up on it, “Yeah, so you and I are actually-”
Veronica cut him off, “No, we’re not. My mom is a piece of shit who used your dad for his money. I have a paternity test proving that my dad is MY dad!”
“How come you waited until now to tell me all this?” Duncan’s voice got louder, “And how come you never responded to my letters? Why did everyone else from fucking Neptune try to contact me except you? And why have you spent the past two and a half years dating my old friends?” Duncan was yelling by now, and Veronica thought she heard Luke stirring in the other room. She had to do something to get him to shut up. Thinking quickly, she kissed him. All the rage that had just filled him melted away, and he returned the kiss passionately.
After almost a minute Veronica pulled away. She walked over to the box, and started taking all the envelopes out. She explained as she went along, “I just found out about the whole situation yesterday. I mean, I thought all this time, you were the one not contacting me, but my mom was actually withholding all the letters you sent me. She wanted me to forget about you.” Veronica saw the pain in Duncan’s look, so she continued, “But I couldn’t forget about you. Lilly was the one who suggested I date other guys. It’s not like any of the relationships have been serious; Troy was a drug dealer, Dick was a dick, and Casey joined a cult.” She purposely left out Luke, hoping Duncan wouldn’t know that they had gotten semi-serious.
Duncan laughed and kissed Veronica’s forehead. “You don’t really have the best luck with relationships, now do you?” He joked.
She started laughing too. “This is nice,” she said.
“What’s nice?” Duncan responded, brushing his fingers against her cheek.
“Laughing again,” Veronica looked into Duncan’s eyes, “I’ve missed you so much.”
“He sat down next to her and stroked her hair, “I’ve missed you too.”
Their lips met once more. Duncan pulled Veronica onto his lap, and his mouth trailed down to Veronica’s neck. “Will you stay this time?” Veronica asked, in between kisses.
Duncan pulled back for a moment to answer, “They’d have to kill me to make me leave you again!” Veronica kissed him fiercely, and he kissed her back just as hard. Everything between them felt so natural, like he had never gone. Veronica was surprised about how nervous and excited she felt whenever Duncan touched her. She knew the next day would be tough; she'd have to end things with Luke, admit her mother's affair and the paternity question to her dad, return all the money to Jake Kane, and find out if Celeste drove her mother to kill herself. It wasn't going to be easy, straightening out the mess her mother had left behind - but Duncan was back and in her arms, and they weren't about to let go of each other again.
Five envelopes slid to the floor, forgotten. For now.