Title: Long Time Coming

Author: Sarah

Summary: AU. Veronica's father is Jake Kane. Future Fic. LoVe.

AN: I've got a new story, don't worry I'm still working on 'Your Ex Lover is Dead'. I just wanted to start a story that was less work and will have quicker updates. I hope you like it.

Long Time Coming

Chapter One

In Places, Empty Spaces

You have four new messages.

Beep.

"Hey Veronica, it's Dad. Your Mom wants to know when you're coming home for dinner next. Make your old folks happy and come and visit more often. Also Jake wants to know if you're going Lilly's birthday dinner next Tuesday, Celeste is trying to organize tables or something. Anyway, I love you kiddo."

Beep

"V, I'm going to be away for a couple of days. My Grandma was rushed into hospital; she's ok at the moment but I'll need to stay in Albuquerque for a while to deal with family stuff. Can you pick up my psyc notes and keep your boyfriend away from my bed!"

Beep.

"Hey,Veronica. Just checking to see that were still on for tonight. I'll see you at 8, I'm bringing the movies this time. I will not sit through the South Park movie one more time. I can't wait to see you again. Ok… love you…bye….."

Beep.

"VERONICA!!!! PICK UP THE PHONE!!!!! Ok I guess your not home, I'm just reminding you that it is your fabulous sister's birthday next week and we are heading to LA afterwards. I don't want to hear any lame ass excuses either, the whole gang is gonna be there. I'll even let you bring this new boyfriend I've heard so much about. Ciao, Bella."

I rubbed my temples, hoping to ease the tension that had built up in just minutes. The guilt from neglecting my family weighed heavily on my chest. It wasn't as if I had been deliberately avoiding them, it was just that with midterms and working on the Hearst Free Press plus my job at the Java Hut I didn't have time. I couldn't afford to slack of like Lilly or Duncan or Logan who relied on their parents to get them through College. The surprising thing is that Jake Kane is my father, so if anybody should be getting a free ride it's me. I use the term father loosely, Jake is great but I will always think of Keith Mars as my father.

The truth about my paternity had come to light after my eighth birthday. I never really found out exactly what made Lianne decide to tell my father her doubts about my paternity but she did and as painful as it was at the time I'm glad she did. I recall that time as being the worst of my life. Dad was furious, as was expected, but he never let me doubt his love for me. I think he wanted to leave, he was so furious with Lianne he couldn't look at her for months. But he stayed, for me. He would tuck me in at night as per usual and make sock puppet shows that I would protest loudly that I was too old for but he would do them anyway and I would secretly enjoy them. I met my biological father almost a year after I found out the truth, apparently there was some trouble organizing a suitable time to meet. Knowing Celeste as I do know, I realize that she would have had a major influence on the meeting being delayed for so long.

Flashback

Jake Kane had stood tall and strange in his formal business suit, that I would later get accustomed to seeing him in. The first time I saw him in jeans and a polo shirt I didn't recognize him, I had thought he was one of the groundskeepers they employed. I was just about to query Lilly about this strange man sitting at their kitchen counter when Jake called out to Duncan and began grilling him on how school was going.

I had studied his face with such thoroughness, looking for any resemblances between us, that he rubbed his eye self consciously. He had smiled, and shook my hand, and told me my dress was very pretty. He was nice, but I had felt as though I would never feel that easy bond I have with Keith and truthfully I never had.

Weekends and holidays that I had spent at the Kane Residence had been just that, holidays, vacations, glimpses of a different glamorous lifestyle. They were nice but I loved going home, snuggling up with Back Up on our old worn couch and watching baseball with my Dad.

Jake had introduced me to Lilly Kane, a bright eyed little girl only a little taller than me who was bouncing on the balls of her feet.

"I'm Lilly Kane. This is so cool, I need another person to play dolls with. Duncan sucks at being Princess Celia"

A small boy with floppy brown hair had objected, "I do not suck at Princess Cel-", He stopped himself and looked down at his shoes in embarrassment. His neck and cheeks flushed crimson.

Lilly and I giggled at Duncan and then she dragged me off to her bedroom.

End Flashback

Finding out Jake Kane was my father didn't really change my life that much. At first Jake had offered to buy me things, help pay for school fees but I had curtly replied, "My parents are paying for it." And he hadn't pushed the issue. That's not to say my life was completely average, not every teenage girl can claim to have spent spring break in Tahoe, or gone to movie premiers in LA, or skiing in Aspen. These were the little things that reminded me that I was not just some small town girl who had to work ten shifts waiting tables to save up for a pair of shoes.

I smiled thinking about Lilly's message. She was turning twenty – one next week. Celeste had planned some fancy soirée; apparently the governor was making an appearance. I have no idea why the governor would come to a girl's twenty-first but it seems he was. Lilly of course wanted nothing to do with the upper-crust affair that was being planned and it seemed she had already organized her escape.

I also noted the not so subtly mention of my boyfriend on the voice message she left me. She was being sarcastic; I hadn't told her anything about him and by the tone of her voice she was a little hurt by that. It was only new though and I hadn't wanted to make a big deal out of nothing. I'm not even sure how much I like him and how much of the attraction is just convenience and loneliness. My last serious relationship had been my senior at High School, now a sophomore at Hearst things were looking pretty sad.

I was startled out of my thoughts by a knock at the door of my dorm room; it seemed the man of the hour had arrived. I quickly ran a hand through my hair and smoothed down my t-shirt before opening the door.

"Hey" I said grinning at him.

He beamed right back at me.

End Chapter One

Who is Veronica's mystery boyfriend? Tell me what you think of it. Should I continue?

-Sarah