Gangsters Paradise (3/4), Logan/Veronica, PG
Fic: Gangster’s Paradise (3/4)
Author: me :D
Rating: PG
Pairing/Characters: Logan/Veronica, Keith, Duncan, Dick, Cassidy, mentions of Lilly, Jake and Leanna
Word Count: 4108
Summary: Veronica is a working girl in the 1930s and when she meets a supposed gangster her life is turned upside down.
Spoilers; None, its AU
Disclaimer: I am very sad to admit that I don’t own Veronica Mars cause I would not have let it play out the way it had. So please don’t sue me, this is just a little bit of fun.
A/N: This has taken me far too long to update and for that I am sorry. I only hope that you’ll forgive me and try to enjoy this chapter knowing that I’m already getting to work on the next on. Please please forgive me :D Also this hasn’t been beta’d (because it’s taken so long to get done) so any and all mistakes are mine and don’t feel afraid to gently point them out to me.
Other than that enjoy and feel free to comment :D
Chapter 1 Chapter 2
One month later
“No! No way!” Logan cried.
“Why not?”
“Do you not remember what happened last time I came to dinner at your house?”
“Yes I do,” Veronica sighed, “But my dad has promised to be better.”
“I don’t care. Last time he almost killed me!”
“Logan, you’re being melodramatic.”
“I don’t think I am.”
“Look, I understand that you have no desire to ever go back to my house but this past month has been hard with you and my dad not getting along. Can’t you think of how this has been affecting me?”
“I know how this is affecting you and if I could something to make it easier I would.” Logan replied stepping forward and wrapping his arms around her waist.
Veronica nodded, placing her arms around his neck and smiling, “Then you’ll come to dinner.”
Logan sighed, “I walked straight into that one, didn’t I?”
“Yes you did,” Veronica said tilting her head to the side, “And you can’t back out now.”
“Fine.”
Reaching up she kissed him quickly on the lips, “Thank you.”
“For you kitten anything.”
“Well, in return I will meet Dick and Cassidy, ok”
“Really?”
“Yes, really. I’ll do that for you, as long as you don’t chicken out on dinner with my dad.”
“Deal,” Logan said kissing her again softly.
********LoVe*********
Walking into her house several hours later Veronica couldn’t help but feel sad. Her dad, for some reason, didn’t like Logan and she couldn’t figure out why. Logan had been polite and courteous over dinner, hadn’t said a thing about his gang connections, and had done everything she had asked of him. Her father, on the other hand, had been rude and domineering from the beginning and it was a miracle that Logan still wanted to be anywhere near her. When he wasn’t demanding to be called Mr Mars he wanted Logan to explain why he felt he didn’t need a job or how his life had ended up this way. She couldn’t understand her father’s need to interrogate him as though he wasn’t a guest in their house and if that wasn’t bad enough there was the fact that they had been arguing about it when she had no idea what she was really defending. It was getting on her nerves
Trying to move past the living room, where her father was, as quietly as possible she sighed when he called out for her. Closing her eyes and taking a deep breath she turned around and headed to the entrance way.
“I really rather not fight with you again so if that’s all that you want then I’m not going to hang around for it,” Veronica said, crossing her arms.
Shaking his head Keith replied, “No actually. I was thinking we could talk, civilly, about your mother.”
“What about her?” Veronica asked, moving into the room.
“Well, as you know, she came to me for help because her fiancé was in trouble with the wrong men.” Keith said, “We spent a lot of time together in those 3 weeks she was at the office with me. I almost didn’t know how to say goodbye to her.”
September 30th 1909
Keith drove the car around the corner slowly, not wanting this to happen. How could he when he was unsure about how safe he could truly make her? If he was honest with himself though he knew that it was because he would miss her. Somehow over these past few weeks she had become his best friend and he had never thought that that could happen when it came to a client. Of course that one blissful night they had spent together made parting worse. Pulling the car into the first parking spot he could find he climbed out. Smiling when he spotted her he headed over to her.
“Your carriage awaits my lady,” he said, motioning to the car.
“Well kind sir it doesn’t look like much but I’ll take it,” Leanne laughed, smiling at Keith, “I can’t thank you enough for this Keith. You’ve done more than you ever should have.”
“It was my pleasure,” Keith replied, wrapping his arms around her, “Just promise me that you will take care of you and the baby,” pulling back slightly he continued, “Are you sure you don’t want me to come with you? I can drive the whole way there.”
Shaking her head Leanne broke the hug, “I’ll be fine. You have done more than enough for me and my baby girl.”
“You don’t know that it’s a girl.”
“I feel it and she will be as cute a bug and I will love her forever.”
Keith smiled and opened the door for her. Watching her get in her smiled and said, “Just protect her no matter what. That means no contact with Jake Kane, got it?”
“Yes sir”
“So she left for Chicago and stayed in the safe house I had located for her until a month after you were born.” Keith whispered, “There’s more if you want to know it.”
“I know this dad, what I want to know is why would she leave me with you? How did I get here when she was in Chicago?”
Keith took her hand in his, “The only people who can answer that are Jake and Leanne. Since Leanne is dead the only way she could tell you is through that letter.” Standing he walked over to the small table in the centre of the room and grabbed a piece of paper, “If you want to find Jake Kane here is his address. You should be careful though, last time I talked to him he was knee deep in gangster activities.”
Nodding Veronica took the piece of paper from him, “Thank you. I have to think about all this though.”
“Of course. Now shake a leg and get out of here, I have a movie to watch and you won’t like it.”
Standing Veronica shook her head before walking over to her father and kissing him gently on the forehead, “I love you pops,” she whispered before leaving the room, paper grasped firmly in her hand.
*****LoVe*******
Moving into Dick and Beaver’s house he smiled. He loved that this place felt like a second home and after everything that had happened in his life he was glad that he at least find a home now that he was an adult, especially seeing as he couldn’t when he was a kid. Knowing that they would both be in the games room he climbed the familiar path of the stairs, jumping them two at a time. He was going to tell them, both things. The fact that they were going to meet Veronica and that he was going to tell her about Lilly. Of course he needed their opinion on what and how to tell her but in the end it was going to be a good thing.
Standing in the doorway he wasn’t surprised to find them fighting, again. It was their natural way of communicating. Not feeling in the mood to get in the middle of the match, he brought his fingers to his mouth and gave a sharp whistle that penetrated through the room.
Smiling when they looked at him Logan said, “Will you two twits cut it out?”
“Depends,” Dick replied, not letting go of Cassidy’s neck, “You bring your moll with you.”
Logan rolled his eyes, “Not this time. But I told her that I’d bring her around next week sometime, as long as you two are on your best behaviour. That means not calling her a moll.”
“You can fight it all you want Echolls but you are considered one of us,” Cassidy said with a shrug before pushing his brother hard enough to make him let go.
“You’re both hilarious,” Logan replied with a roll of his eyes, “But I really need your help. I have to tell her about Lilly but I don’t know how too.”
Dick shrugged, “Just tell her the truth. That’s all you can do and pray she doesn’t run away.”
“I doubt this one’s going to run anywhere.” Logan growled before grabbing a pool stick and tossing it Dick, “Now shut it and play pool.”
*******LoVe********
Smiling when he saw Veronica on the steps of his apartment building he couldn’t help but feel confused. She hadn’t said that she was coming around today, although it was a very pleasant surprise. Scooping her up into his arms he kissed her quickly before pulling away.
“Why are you here? I wasn’t expecting to see you til tomorrow?” Logan asked.
Stepping back Veronica said, “I think dad wants to talk about Leanne again and I don’t know what I’m going to do. I don’t know if I’m ready to make a decision so I just thought I’d come here instead. I hope that’s ok.”
Smiling Logan led her up the stairs, “Of course it’s ok. I like the fact that you feel safe enough to come here. Though I think I need to make a key for you so you’re not constantly waiting on my steps.”
“You don’t have to do that. I don’t mind waiting.”
“But I mind that you have to wait so it’s not going to happen anymore.” Logan said as he opened the door, “I’m glad you’re here though. There’s something I need to tell you.”
“Is everything ok?” Veronica asked noticing the grim look on his face.
“Yeah, I just have to tell you something before you meet Dick and Beaver.” Logan replied guiding her to the couch. Taking a seat he took a deep breath, “Before you there was another girl. One who I was so sure was my soul mate it wasn’t funny.”
Veronica nodded, “Ok obviously she’s not otherwise we wouldn’t be together.
“I know. Her name was Lilly. I met her in high school when I was sixteen and we had an intense relationship. We were on and off, we’d always fight but for some reason I couldn’t shake her. I just loved her so much that it felt like if I ever let go I’d lose myself.”
“So what happened?” Veronica whispered, instinctively grabbing his hand. Somehow she knew this story wasn’t going to end nicely.
“A month before her nineteenth birthday there was a gang attack. We’d just been out on a date and I was walking her home when these two men jumped out of the car. Before either of us could react two shots had been fired and she was falling to the ground.”
Running a hand up his arm she whispered, “Oh God Logan.”
“She died before I could get her to a doctor.” Logan said with a shaky breath, “I haven’t felt that way about anyone in a very long time. Actually I was scared I’d never feel that way again, until I met you.”
Leaning over Veronica kissed him softly on the lips. “That’s how I feel too Logan. Why are you telling me now though?”
Turning so his body was facing her he said, “I’m telling you cause I don’t want there to be any secrets between us, ever. I want it to be total honesty.”
Smiling Veronica kissed him again before saying, “Total honesty? I can deal with that.”
******LoVe******
Standing over the stove Veronica stirred the dish carefully. She figured it was time that she told her father what she was going to do, not that she was sure she had made up her mind completely. She knew that she didn’t want to search for Jake, her could be father, when she had such a great one already. As far as she was concerned Keith Mars would be her father forever, even if he didn’t like her choice in boys. There was also the fact of Logan coming to dinner. Sure she had told Logan that she had gotten her father to agree to the having him over for dinner again. She knew she could, if push came to shove she would use her famous head tilt on him, it was how she had convinced him to let her take a job after all.
Smiling when she heard the front door open she pulled the dish she had been stirring off the stove. Placing the food onto two plates she called out to her dad, “Hey dad, you got here just in time.”
Her smile grew as he entered the room, “Hey kiddo. Did you make dinner?”
“Yeah I figured we should talk.”
Serving the meal onto two plates she placed one in front of where her father had sat down and placed the other in front of herself. Sitting down she looked at her father and opened her mouth before closing it and picking up her fork. She wanted to have this conversation she just wasn’t sure where to start.
“Honey,” Keith whispered, “I know that you have a lot of decisions to make at the moment, and you have to make them alone but maybe if you talked to me about it that would be better.”
“That’s why I wanted to have dinner dad,” Veronica whispered. Taking a deep breath she put down her fork, “I’ve decided not to find Jake Kane. Hopefully whatever Leanne wanted to tell me would be in that letter. As far as I’m concerned you’re my father and that’s more than enough for me.”
Taking her hand Keith smiled at her across the table, “For the record you will always be my daughter, even though you aren’t.”
Laughing Veronica squeezed his hand before saying, “I invited Logan to dinner tomorrow night. I was hoping you would try to be nice.”
“I was nice,” Keith protested.
“Not really dad,” Veronica replied picking up her fork, “You were rude. I really like Logan and I can see us having a future together. Can you please try, for me?”
Keith sighed, “Of course. But only cause you asked.”
Nodding Veronica began to eat. She hopped this meant that he would be nice tomorrow night. If he wasn’t she planned on throwing this moment back in his face.
*****LoVe*******
Grasping Logan’s hand a little tighter than necessary Veronica followed him up the stairs. She was surprised that the maid had just left the door opened when she saw who was there. Turning as Logan entered a games room she was surprised to find two boys fighting with pool cues. Looking over at Logan to see what he was doing she was surprised when he rolled his eyes and turned to her.
“You might want to cover your ears,” He said before bringing his fingers to his lips blowing out a whistle.
Shying away from him Veronica blinked rapidly before looking over at the two boys. She was surprised to see that they had stopped and turned to look at the pair of them. The two blond boys were attractive enough, not as great looking as Logan though, and they defiantly came off as brothers, just by the way they stood next to each other. Smiling at Logan as he tugged her further into the room she watched the three boys and waited for one of them to react.
Feeling Logan squeeze her hand she wasn’t surprised when he said, “Veronica, this is Dick and his younger brother Cassidy. Guys this is Veronica.”
“It is a pleasure to meet you,” Cassidy said, excitedly grasping her hand in his and shaking it. “You are exactly as Logan described you.”
“I hope that’s a good thing,” Veronica replied with a nervous chuckle.
“It is, this boy is crazy about you,” Dick replied, taking her hand from his brother.
Shaking her head, “Well that’s good cause I’m crazy about him too,” she responded turning to Logan, giving him a small smile.
“Well then, how about we play some pool and get to know you better,” Cassidy suggested.
“Just so we’re clear I’ll kick all your butts at this, whether you like it or not.” Veronica replied, taking a cue off the wall so that she was ready to play.
******LoVe******
Walking up the stairs Duncan smiled as he knocked on the door. He knew that this was petty and childish but it would be one of the fastest ways to get Logan and Veronica apart. His smile grew as Mr Mars answered the door.
“Hi Mr Mars I’m Duncan Kane. I work with Veronica,” He said offering his hand.
Taking the offered hand Keith shook it, “Well it’s a pleasure to meet you Duncan but Veronica’s out.”
“I know, sir, I was hoping for a minute of your time.”
Nodding Keith motioned for the boy to come in. “What can I do for you?” he asked as they took a seat in the living room.
“It’s more what I can do for you. There’s something I though you should about Veronica’s boyfriend?”
“Logan?” Keith sneered.
“Yeah. You see he’s not who he says he is. He’s actually a known gangster.”
Nodding Keith leaned forward in his chair, “Tell me more.”
Smiling Duncan lent forward, “Well did you know that she met with two of his gangster friends last night.”
******LoVe********
Placing the last fork on the table Veronica raised her head when she heard a knock at the door. She was a little concerned. Her father hadn’t come home from the office yet. She was hoping he would get home before Logan showed up but apparently that wasn’t going to happen. Walking to the door she smiled at Logan, accepting his gentle kiss, before moving aside so that he could enter.
Guiding him into the living room she smiled at him before saying, “Dad’s not home from the office yet.”
Logan nodded and took a seat on the couch, “Who knew that being a flat foot would take so much work?”
Sitting down next to him Veronica replied, “Only a flat foot and his family know how truly hard it is. Do you want something to drink while we wait?” she asked, fiddling with her hands.
Shaking his head Logan took her hands in his, “I’m fine.” He replied, “How was your day? It feels like forever since I saw you last.”
“It has not,” Veronica replied with a laugh, “I left you at your friend’s place last night. How is that forever?”
“It just feels that way,” Logan replied with a shrug.
Shaking her head Veronica moved so she was sitting closed to him. While it was fun to mock Logan’s feelings about being apart she couldn’t help but feel the same. It was weird, in her opinion, to feel so attached to a man she had barely known two months but it didn’t matter in her mind cause her heart knew that they were soul mates, destined to find each other. Even if that meant that Logan had to live without Lilly. Even if it meant she would never find out who her father really was.
Leaning over she kissed him softly, hoping to convey everything she was feeling in that one simple kiss. Feeling his hand creep up to her cheek she moved to deepen the kiss slightly when she heard the cock of a gun. Pulling away she stood when she saw her father in the doorway pointing a gun at them.
“Dad, what is going on?” Veronica cried.
“I want him out of my house, now!” Keith growled, moving the gun so it was pointed directly at Logan, “And you are to never see him again.”
“What?! You said you would be nice. You said that you would try. This isn’t trying.” Veronica yelled, throwing her hands into the hair as she felt Logan shift and stand behind her.
“I won’t have you with a gangster Veronica. I promised I’d keep you safe.”
“Maybe I should just go,” Logan whispered, raising his hands in surrender. Trying to move towards the door he was surprised when Veronica blocked his path.
“No. Don’t go, please.” Veronica pleaded with Logan before turning to face her father again, “Why are you doing this? You promised me you’d give him a chance.”
“That was before I knew he was a gangster,” Keith replied, “Now I think you should leave boy and don’t come back.”
Nodding Logan pulled free from Veronica and left, moving cautiously around Keith, before exiting through the front door, slamming it behind him. Watching as Keith sighed and lowered the gun Veronica shook her head, “He’s not a gangster and he can’t be called one just because his friends with two people who are.”
“How do you know all this?”
“He told me,” Veronica admitted, “And I met his gangster friends yesterday.”
“What are you doing Veronica? You should know better.” Keith argued, not understanding his daughter’s actions.
“I love him dad and whether you like it or not I’m going to keep seeing him.” Veronica replied moving out of the room and grabbing her jacket.
Not listening to a word that Keith said she pulled on her jacket before running out the door, slamming it behind her. Choosing the direction she was sure that Logan had taken she set off at a jog hoping to find the boy somewhere along there and repair any damage that her father may have done to them. Turning the first corner she smiled when she saw him up ahead.
“Logan!” She called, praying he would stop, “Logan!”
Sighing in relief when he heard her she slowed down to a walk as she approached him. His body language was off and his facial expressions were grim. Stopping in front of him she was surprised when he spoke first.
“What do you want Veronica?”
“Are you ok?” she asked, running a hand down his arm.
Shrugging Logan replied, “I don’t know, it’s not every day that someone pulls a gun on me.”
“I’m sorry, ignore him. He’s being a pain, he’ll come around.”
“I don’t think he will,” Logan replied with a shake of his head, “And you can’t keep being torn between the two of us. So I’m going to make your life easier.”
“What do you mean?” Veronica whispered, almost too afraid to find out where this was going.
“I think it would be best if we stopped seeing each other,” Logan replied softly.
“I don’t want to stop seeing you.”
Logan shrugged, “And I don’t want to stop seeing you but you can’t keep doing this. I know how much your dad means to you. I can’t compete with that.”
“Yes you can, I know because in my heart you’ve already won.”
Kissing her softly on the forehead he whispered against it, “But in your head you’ll blame me forever and I’d rather live without you than know that I’ve caused that. Goodbye Veronica Mars.”
Turning and walking away Logan took in a deep breath before turning right at the intersection. He didn’t want to be alone tonight and since he could no longer be with the woman he wanted to be with that just left his two best friends. Hopefully some pool, drinking and smoking would help ease the pain, just a little.
*****LoVe*******
Opening the door Veronica sniffed trying to hold back her tears. She still couldn’t believe this had happened. Trying not to alert her father to her arrival she closed the door lightly before heading down the corridor trying to contain her sniffles. Running a hand through her hair she couldn’t believe what had just happened. She had thought that he was the one. That Logan Echolls would sweep her off her feet and make an honest woman out of her, not that anything dishonest had happened between them. Now she was stuck here, crying, trying to figure out where Logan’s reasoning had come from. Her father hadn’t helped the matter sure but that hadn’t bother Logan before.
Reaching for the door handle she went to turn it when she heard her father call out her name. Turning she shook her head, “Just leave me alone.”
“Veronica, I’m sorry.”
“You should be. It’s your fault he decided to break up with me,” Veronica said with a sob, “Now just leave me alone.”
Pulling the door open she moved quickly slamming the door behind her before leaning against it. Sliding down slowly she let out a choked sob before finally collapsing to the floor and letting the tears overwhelm her. For the moment she didn’t want to be strong, she just wanted Logan.
Chapter 4