InsaneJournal

Who: Logan Howlett & Velma Kelly
What: Velma's birthday celebration
When: Night of 9/25
Where: Around town, Anaheim
Warnings/Rating: PG
Status: Complete



There was a cake. It wasn’t a very good cake. In fact it was a complete disaster of a cake, and was now in the trash. And there was also a huge mess in the kitchen, thanks to the first cake.

Fucking baking. Change of plans. Logan booked a pricey restaurant instead, and got the place cleaned up before Vel caught him.

Velma was feeling better and better, so she’d gone out to the doctor and was on her way back. She put in the code for the door, looking around. “Logan? Eli? It’s me, I’m back.”

“Hey, darlin’. How you feeling?” Logan had finished, and except for some flour in his hair he hadn’t noticed, nothing looked amiss. No cake failures here.

Velma did notice. “Flour fall on your head?” She smiled, brushing the streak from his hair. “I’m doing surprisingly not-barfy. The doc said everything’s going according to plan, that I’m nine weeks in and doing fine.”

Beer and cake didn’t mix. Nor make for very good batter. Logan nodded. “Good.” He came over and took her hands. “We’re goin’ out for dinner. Jus’ you an’ me.”

“Oh, okay.” Velma smiled, kissing his cheek. “Thanks. I feel bad today’s one of the few days I’ve been up for it.” She felt like she hadn’t paid him much attention, which was stupid, but oh well, you couldn’t change how you felt.

“It’s your birthday, ain’t it?” He said, stroking her cheek. “I want to do somethin’ special.”

“I’d ask how you remembered, but I bitched about morning sickness on the network, so.” Velma laughed. “Still, it’s nice of you. Do I look okay, or should I change?”

“Kitty showed me how to set up reminders,” Logan countered. He looked her over. “Something a little fancier. I think that red number of yours will work, won’t be too tight I don’t think.”

“Ooh. Okay.” Velma smiled, going for a kiss. “That should be fine, but I might have to skip the heels. My feet fucking hurt already.” She headed for their room, going to change into the sleek red dress.

He grinned at the thought of hers in heels, but he wasn’t going to make the poor woman walk around like that. Or fall. Falling would be bad. He went to clean up, too. He already had his clothing laid out, and well fuck there was flour in his hair. He brushed it out, then stuck the ring box in his pants.

Velma had a few pairs of flats, and she’d stuck one on. It worked out, she figured; the skirt dragged a little on the floor, but it made her legs look longer. Heading back out, she waited for him.

“Lookin’ good.” He kissed her, then took her hand and led her out to the car. Better than a bike at this point. He really hoped she’d be able to stomach the meal.

“You too. God, it’s been a long time since we did this.” Velma wrapped her arm around his waist. Too much crazy shit, even before the getting knocked up.

“I think we both need it,” Logan replied. He helped her into the car and then got into the driver’s seat to get going. No explosions, thus far. Good!

Velma was thinking the same thing. “Are you armed?” It was asked flippantly, and she wouldn’t have asked so jokingly once upon a time. Now, though, it was part of life. “Neena said to say hi, by the way. Just saw her the other day. She’s grumpy and feeling like shit, and hopes you’ll come into her place and be irrationally protective of her new bartenders.”

“I’m always armed, darlin’.” He laughed, then scowled. “Neena’s a fuckin’ busybody sometimes.”

“Neena’s also going apeshit being bored.” She took his free hand as he drove. “She must really need help at the bar, though. She hired a couple of Brits.”

“I’m not sure her clientele will survive. They’re snootier ‘bout their booze. But they also earned it,” Logan couldn’t help it. He liked to taunt American booze.

“Eh, they’re apparently hot chicks. I’m sure it’ll work out.” Velma chuckled. “She did want you to come in, though. You’re part of her business plan.”

“Yeah? And how am I gonna be part of her business plan?” He asked, his expression amused.

“If the new girls are all delicate and waifish, she figures you’ll come in more and drink to look after them.” Velma kind of liked being the go-between for Neena to mock Logan. “I think, secretly, she also kind of misses hanging out with you.”

Logan grunted. “Need to see a picture of them.” He could play along with this. Truth was, he missed hanging out with her too.

“I told her, I was jealous of her for a hot second at the beginning, but you guys are more like family than anything.” Velma shrugged. She knew they used to fuck, but even if Neena was single, the idea wouldn’t have bothered her anymore. “I think we might sort of wind up being friends? Maybe?”

“Good…” There weren’t many people he wanted more to be friends with Vel. Neena’s...well not approval, but acceptance? That was important to him.

“We understand each other.” Velma shrugged. “We never used to, but we do a little better now.”

“Neena can be pretty hard to understand, even knowin’ her like I do,” Logan replied. “Sometimes I think that’s how she likes it.”

“You’re two of a fucking kind.” Velma pointed out. “You love that air some people give you. Mysterious man with a tragic past.” She made spooky hands.

Logan barked out a laugh and grinned at her. “That part of the mystique that attracted you?”

“You attracted me because you were a good teacher, and you had a hot ass.” Velma smirked. “I didn’t get to know you til later on. When we met I just wanted somebody to show me how not to get mugged ... I think it was that fucked up Wonderland shit?”

“Yeah.” Logan shook his head. “Fuckin’ crazy shit. Not even the craziest shit I’ve ever seen, but up there.”

“We’ve been through a lot.” Velma smiled a little, squeezing his hand. “You remember the singing week?”

“I remember the singing week,” Logan replied. He’d hated that week. It had made shit really really painful with Alyssa and Neena.

“I told you I wound up singing Dreamboat Annie one time after you left.” Velma figured she could tell him and let him laugh; it was long enough ago. “It totally wasn’t Dreamboat Annie. It was Magic Man.”

Logan laughed. “Yeah? I think that mighta backfired back then, if you’d’ve told me.” He was being honest, at least. It took time for him to come around to something. Usually he ended up too late.

“Why do you think I lied like a damn rug?” Velma shrugged. “I knew you didn’t want anything back then.” Technically, he still didn’t, but she’d made her peace with it.

“I know, darlin’. I can get skittish. Hate people telling me what to do, or when to do it. I take things at my own pace.” If one more person seriously told him to ‘marry that woman’ he was going to stab them.

“Trust me, I know.” Velma rolled her eyes. Honestly, it was probably why they got along. She knew the futility of getting him to do anything he didn’t want to do. “Though I do appreciate that sometimes you’ll do stuff you don’t like if I ask you nice.” She chuckled. She meant more little stuff, like running errands.

“I’d do ‘em anyway but you gotta put up with things your girlfriends.want you to do.” He grinned at her.

“Smartass.” Velma laughed. “I love you, you know. Against my better judgment.”

“What’s your better judgement tell you?” He pulled into an Italian place.

“That life with you is batshit insane and I should get the hell out of here? But I don’t listen to that judgment very often. I love you too much.” Velma felt herself tearing up and viciously wiped her eyes. “Fuck! This kid’s turning me into a girl.” She hated crying.

Shit… Logan looked over at her. “You okay, darlin’? I ain’t interested in leavin’ anytime soon, if you’re worried about it.”

“No, no, I swear, I’m okay. Just the fucking hormones. I barely have to think about something for two seconds and I get all teary.” Velma laughed, looking over at him before getting out of the car. “I swear, I trust you. Just, let’s face it, your average woman would move to the OC, see what goes on here and get the fuck out. Apparently I’m not average.”

“You’re special, darlin’. My kinda special.” He got out of the car, and then opened the door for her. “I think we fit together.”

“Works for me.” Velma smiled. “You know I give you shit cause it’s basically my job, right? I have to take over for Neena.” She teased. “That’s one job I inherited.”

“That’s the best job, apparently.” At least from what he could tell, most of the women in his life gave him shit, but he put up with that, because he cared about them.

They headed out of the car and into the restaurant, and Velma caught more than one woman staring at them. She couldn’t help but be smirky; her man cleaned up good.

He smirked as well, more than happy to have this beautiful woman on his arm. She was his, and he was hers, and there was something exciting about that. Even more exciting because of what he had planned.

Velma let the man pull her chair out for her, and eased into it. “This place looks nice.”

“It better be nice,” Logan replied. “Ain’t no prices on the menus. Lets get whatever we want.”

“I actually feel like I can eat.” Velma marveled. “Banner day.” She had to smile. “Remember the first time we went to a fancy place like this? Kitty and Alyssa at a table someplace?”

“Yeah, titterin’ like birds at us. You know, I always told ‘em I’d get ‘em back. Maybe it’s time I did. Probably forgot by now.”

“Probably, yeah. But you don’t forget.” Velma teased, opening her menu. “If you want to be really cruel, could always involve Alyssa’s mom.”

Logan grinned. “Got an idea?”

“Simple. Tell Alyssa’s mom she’s knocked up.” Velma said sweetly.

Logan tilted his head back and laughed loud enough to draw some looks. “Fuck, I love you. That’s perfect.”

“I thought so.” Velma grinned. She didn’t care about the looks; it sounded stupid, but she was just happy to be there with him.

Hopefully she didn’t care about looks. Logan’s plan would probably draw a great deal of looks. But he hoped it would be worth it.

They ordered, and Velma took a chance on food that was more substantial than just broth. “I am really, really sorry if I have to go be sick in the middle of this. I’d say blame the parasite, but I kinda feel like an ass saying that.” It couldn’t help it, after all.

“It’s the truth, an’ we’ll just take it out on the kid in sixteen years when she brings someone home,” Logan replied, smirking. Oh the torment they could cause. He looked forward to it.

“You think it’s a girl?” Velma chuckled. “Or do you just say that because you’re reliving torturing Eli’s boyfriend?”

“Both.” Logan shrugged a shoulder. It was still too early for his sniffer to tell, and he’d love the kid regardless.

“Just curious. Obviously I’m okay with either, but I kinda hope it’s a boy. Carrying on your family line and all that shit.” Velma smiled a little. He wasn’t much for legacy, she knew, but it still would be nice to her. “Also, a boy would be easier for you to scare the crap out of when it comes to dating. A girl would just laugh at you.” Alyssa called him silly old bear, for Christ’s sake.

“We really don’t want any kid who’s gonna be like me,” Logan said, referring to either gender. He wrinkled his nose.

“Oh, bullshit.” Velma rolled her eyes. “You have a lot of good qualities to you, and a kid being like me wouldn’t exactly be a cakewalk either.”

“So our kids are going to be fuckin’ hellions then.”

“Duh.” Velma laughed. “You didn’t see that one coming? But they’ll also be smart. And by some people’s standards, good looking.”

“Yeah. How many you want?” Logan was careful to wait until she was drinking.

It worked; she choked on her water and had to move fast to keep it from spilling on her dress. “You are such an asshole.” Velma rubbed her nose, laughing. “Once upon a time, the answer would have been ‘fuck you’, but now I think the answer is ‘let’s see how I do with this one’.”

"Fair enough, darlin'." Logan toasted her with his glass and then knocked it back.

“Might actually go for one more. At least if Eli’s around to help.” Velma shook her head. “I didn’t think we’d get along, but she’s ... great.” And she hadn’t been faking tears when Eli called her Mama.

Logan had been grateful for that. “Think we need to spend more time with Laura, too. I’m glad you an’ Kitty get along.” He really had too many fucking ‘daughters’.

“Kitty’s great, I just told her I’d smack her if she called me Mom.” Kitty was a grown woman. “Laura I don’t know as well, but I think it’s just because she’s kind of shy.” Not even shy, just soft-spoken.

“So she called you mom anyway didn’t she,” Logan guessed. He’d have to arrange more time for Laura and Vel. Hell. Himself and Laura.

“She totally did. And I smacked her.” Velma mock sighed.

Logan darted his eyes. “She probably liked it.” It was a nice mental image, what.

“Probably. Girl needs help.” She was teasing, but only just. She worried about Kitty, probably the same way her Mom would.

"Yeah..." Logan couldn't disagree, on both the joking count and the serious undertone to it. "She got way older than her age."

“That doesn’t surprise me.” Velma shrugged. “She takes care of everybody. Me, too, even.”

“Just forgets to take care o’herself, but that’s a crime most of us are guilty of.” Logan reached across the table to take her hand.

“Fair. Though not me lately. It sounds weird, but I’ve been so neurotic about everything. I guess it isn’t for me, it’s for the kid.”

"Yeah. I've seen plenty o'times where you weren't takin' care of yourself. So havin' that baby in you makin' you take care? I ain't gonna complain. Kinda fun to mess with you too." He gave her a broad smile. There was joking there, but there was also genuine caring. He put everything else out of his mind and concentrated on Velma. "Ain't gonna lie. That's why I keep you around."

“What, because I’m fun to mess with?” Velma made a face, but she was amused. “I could say the same thing about you, bucko.”

"Yeah, an' you're on a very short list o'people that I'm willin' to give me shit," he pointed out, his expression cheerful. At some point the food arrived. He really hoped that Vel could keep it down - it would be a hell of a short romantic date if she couldn't. He did have a backup plan, though.

“Aw. I feel special.” Velma laughed, looking up and smiling at the waiter when the food arrived. “That looks great. Perfect rare.”

God, he loved this woman. Logan watched her eat, then dug in with a conscious effort to eat like a human being. He figured if he ate nicely, it might help her keep her own food down. Besides, proposing with one's face fur full of steak juice was the exact opposite of romantic.

After a few minutes, she noticed. “What, wanting to savor that steak?” Velma smiled. It was actually sort of endearing when he ate like he hadn’t had a meal in forever. Well. Unless he was doing it to make her sick. Which he’d only done once, to his credit.

Twice, but one time was a sort of a ninja attempt, so it's better to not talk about it. "Yeah, I want to savor it. Could be my last steak ever, never know." He snorted at her, and smirked.

“Why would you say that?” Velma raised an eyebrow, amused. “God, you’re not going vegan, are you?” That would be the day.

"Never." Logan laughed. "I'd sooner give up beer."

“That’ll be a litmus test for if you’ve been possessed or mind controlled or some shit. I’ll offer you steak and beer and if you turn either down, I’ll shoot you.” Velma raised her eyebrows as if to smirk, taking a bite of meat.

“Good idea,” He replied, honestly. Logan finished his plate and pushed it aside. He wanted to watch her eat, there was something almost erotic about it.

At first she didn’t notice, but then it got a little embarrassing. “Do I have something in my teeth?” Velma chuckled, aware she was blushing. It was kind of nice that he could still make her blush.

“Nah.” Logan got up. “I’ll be right back.” He grinned at her and then headed to the men’s room.

Velma nodded, amused that he was apparently feeling romantic. She hadn’t even expected this much for her birthday; Logan gave her presents at random times and usually made her feel like a princess. No need to wait for a special day.

Every need to wait for a special day. He'd been racking his brain for a present idea, and he was also getting impatient. He seemed to be gone for quite a long time. He didn't know how to actually approach this. Logan didn't do sappy, not the traditional way.

Velma was getting a little concerned by the time she’d almost finished her steak. She toyed with asking a passing waiter to look into the men’s room, but Logan wouldn’t thank her for it. So she stayed at the table a little longer.

Logan came out a few moments later. He'd decided he couldn't do this in front of people. "Ready to go, darlin'? There's somethin' I want to show you."

“Sure. You okay?” Velma raised an eyebrow.

“Yeah, I’m fine.” Logan held out his hand for her. “Already paid up. I think you’ll enjoy what I have in store for you, darlin’.”

“Oh?” Velma figured what the hell. “Okay. Lead on.” She took his hand, curious now.

Logan led her back out to the car, holding the door for her like a gentleman. “It’s a secret.”

“You’ve got me curious.” Velma smiled, climbing into the car, making sure her skirt didn’t catch in the door.

He closed the door without answering, and then climbed into the driver’s seat. He gave her a knowing smile and started the car. “Enjoy your meal?” It felt all rather domestic.

“Yeah, actually. I’m proud of myself for keeping it down, but the steak was damn good, I think that’s why.” She kissed his free hand. “Thanks, honey.”

“You’re welcome.” He grinned, and started heading out of the city.

She let him drive in silence for a while, just curious as to what he had planned. “At least it’s nice tonight.”

Logan pulled off the road. They were higher in the hills and the city sparkled below them all the way to the sea. “Lets go for a walk.”

Okay, now she officially had no fucking clue what he was planning. But there was no reason why not to come along. “Okay.” Velma shrugged, taking his hand, smiling at the view.

He led her in silence, his keen eyes keeping them on a safe path. He eventually found a rock for her to sit on that left the view unobstructed. He rested his hand on her back and and rubbed in a circle.

It really was a nice view, and to have him near was nice. Sometimes you didn’t have to talk; you just wanted to be with someone in silence. She didn’t need to say anything; she just leaned against him, feeling safe and loved.

He held her against him for a time. He didn’t know what to say. Or how to say it. Finally, he sat next to her, took her hand, and put something into her palm.

Velma blinked, looking down and feeling her eyes bug out. “Holy shit.” It was a ring, and it was huge. “Is that real? God. It’s gorgeous. Thank you.” She put it on her right hand, smiling when it fit on the ring finger.

Gorgeous and gigantic. Logan grinned at her. “It’s real.” It obviously hadn’t hit her yet the meaning behind the ring, so he prompted her. “Lets get married, darlin’.”

She genuinely had never expected to hear that from him. She looked up at him, eyebrow raised, but it was ruined by the tears welling up in her eyes. “Fuck! This kid, I swear. Are you sure?” She really didn’t want him to do it because he thought he had to. It was her worst nightmare, to wake up alone one day because he couldn’t fake it anymore.

Logan nodded his head at her. “Darlin’, I’ve never been more sure. I wouldn’t be doin’ this if I wasn’t sure. I’m doin’ it because I love you, not because everyone keeps pushing for it.”

“Okay then.” Velma blinked more tears away. “I had to ask, not because of everyone, but because of Mariko.” She didn’t begrudge him his fear. She took the ring off and put it on the left finger, the engagement finger. “It sounds fucking stupid, but I just want you to be happy. So yes, by the way.”

“You’re not Mariko.” He lifted his hand to her cheek. There was something bothering his eyes, making them a little red. “You ain’t Jean, neither. You’re Vel, an’ you make me happier than I’ve ever been in either world. An’ fuck if I’m going to miss out on that.”

That meant a lot. She nodded then, smiling, wrapping her arms around him. “I love you, you sappy bastard.”

“I don’t know what I did to deserve you.” Logan still felt like at any moment, someone would show up and ruin things. Creed was dead. Yuriko wasn’t a threat. But there were others. Hundreds and hundreds of others...

"Who knows. As long as it wasn't some kind of love spell, who cares?" Velma smirked.

He gave her a look. “ Darlin’, that ain’t funny cuz it’s pretty damn possible.”

“Don’t.” Just for now. Even if it was possible. She didn’t want to think about it. She was engaged.

Logan pulled her into his arms, kissing the side of her face, then her lips. He ran his hands down her sides to her hips, and pulled her against him.

Velma smiled, feeling contented. “You want me to tell the women, so they don’t give you any bullshit?” But then he was kissing her, and talking didn’t seem so important anymore.