Have a holly, jolly Christmas
Disclaimer/Author's Notes: All Scooby-Doo characters are property of Hanna-Barbera/Warner Bros. All other characters can be blamed on the author (he, however, is not responsible for all of their actions). This is a strictly not-for-profit, just-for-fun work.
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Prelude: Friends assemble
The wind had come up in the last 20-30 minutes, whipping the rare North Texas snow to a rarer-seen frenzy of a full-blown blizzard. The fire in the huge living room fireplace popped and roared with the burning of mesquite wood. It was good to be indoors, looking out….
"It's so nice to be looking out on this weather," the beautiful, petite brunette mumbled to herself as she adjusted the decorations again on the massive 8-foot Christmas tree in her living room.
"What time is it, dear?" the male voice came from another room.
"5 minutes after you asked me the last time," she responded with just a hint of sarcasm in her voice.
"Ouch!" was his response. "I just wanted to know if I should start the eggs yet," was his fake whining response.
"Start them now; even with this weather, the first group should be within the next 10-15 minutes. All of the planes landed safely, and the last check online was that luggage was being retrieved."
"Thanks, dear. The pancakes are in the warming oven with the meats and the chorizo casserole."
Velma wrinkled her nose. "Did you fill the casserole with jalapeños, again?"
"Moi? I'm hurt that you would think that," he laughed. "I made multiple casseroles: 'mild' for regular consumers, and 'wild' for the more adventurous of us. I know of at least two 'guests' besides me who will devour it with love." He paused, and then continued, "at least I didn't use the habeneros that you brought home two days ago."
"Good," and she hung another ornament as the doorbell announced the first arrival.
She peeked thru the sheers on the front window and saw the outlines of 6 people on the front porch trying to knock the snow off of their coats. She closed the sheers and went to the front door, calling back to the kitchen "first batch just got arrived."
"Who is it?" she asked, sweetly.
"Candy gram for Mongo and Dinkley," called the rich male voice from the other side of the door.
"There's neither a Mongo nor a Dinkley here," she responded, just as sweetly as she opened the massive doors to reveal…
"Hi, Velms."
"Fred Jones: get your happy hiney in here before you freeze it off," as she grabbed his hand and pulled him into the house. "…and quit blocking the door so you can let your lovely wife and wonderful children in before they freeze."
"What, no hug?" was his response as he removed his coat to reveal…
"Jinkies, Fred, not another ascot," was her response as she crinkled her face in disgust.
"Told you," was the tall, slender redheaded lady's response as she came in the door and began to remove her classically-faux fur to reveal the tailored lavender suit.
"Couldn't resist," was his response as he removed the clip-on ascot. "I needed a 'jinkies' fix."
"Oh, no, not faux ascots? What is this world coming to?"
"I'm selling them in the stores this season; they're flying off the shelves at Macy's and Nieman's," was his response as he bent down and hugged Velma.
"God, it's so good to see you again. How many years has it been?"
"Aunt Vee!" The battle cry was sounded as the kids assaulted Velma. One grabbed her right side, one grabbed the left, and the other 2 slammed into the first group.
"James! Allison! Let go: you're squeezing my breath out! Besides," she said as the first 2 released and the last 2 came in for their hugs, "I've got enough hugs for all of y'all."
"Oh, no!" was Daphne's cry. "I was afraid of that: She's gone native!"
"And what did you expect?" came be response from the kitchen. "When in Texas …."
"Hush," was Velma's response. "You can come out when the eggs are done."
"How are you doing in there, Jonathon?"
"Just fine, Fred; I'm just getting ready for the upcoming feeding frenzy," was Jonathan's response.
"Need a hand?"
"No, thank you. I've got it under control. I'll be out in a few minutes."
"Let's get all of these coats hung up and these kids warming next to the fire," Velma was talking as she was removing Jamie's and George's coats. She collected all of the kid's coats, went with Daphne to the entry closet and hung them, showing Daphne where to hang the adult coats.
"Was the flight bad?" Velma asked Daphne?
"Believe it or not, even smoother the flight to Spooky Island," Daphne smiled. "How is Texas?"
"Warmer than Coolsville," was Velma's response as she hugged Daphne. "It's so good to see you, and I hate you for keeping that figure after all Fred put you through. 4 kids? And 2 sets of twins, to boot?"
"You'd be surprised: you have to keep it to keep up with them, and running the stations keeps me on my toes, so I'm busy all the time." She paused, and then asked, "How are you doing on the Shuttle II project?"
"Fine; with the minds from the two NASA organizations, we're almost ready to launch the McAuliffe."
"That's the new name?"
"Yes; we have an unfortunate plethora of names to choose from; fortunately, we need a lot of shuttles," was Velma's response as they went back into the living room
"How are you doing, Velma?" Daphne asked, quietly.
"Daphne, I didn't know that I could be this happy. I even found a husband who could cook!" she said with the classic Velma sarcasm.
"…and, can I cook…everywhere," came the sugar-coated response from the kitchen, and all of the adults laughed as Velma blushed a deep red.
"That, and my music," he continued, as the warm cello music came over the house sound system.
"It certainly didn't hurt that you found someone who understands you, did it?" Daphne smiled warmly, holding Fred's hand.
"After what we had both been through, No, it didn't. I know that I am supremely blessed, and I hope to keep him thinking the same," was Velma's heartfelt response.
"What about me? I'm the lucky one. Look who I ended up with a life partner: beauty and brains in one gorgeous package, and scared ghosts in multiple time zones, Jonathan called from the kitchen, and then broke into song: "'who could ask for anything more?'"
"Hey, I just thought of something," Fred looked very smug as he spoke.
"What's that, Freddie?"
"You said that there was no Dinkley here. I thought that you didn't change your name."
"You're partially correct, oh ghost-breath. I did take Jonathan's last name, but for my doctorate I kept my maiden name. Jonathan didn't seem to mind-" and Jonathan spoke up.
"…and, she didn't seem to mind that I kept my last name for my doctorate, either, so it worked out for everybody." And Velma smirked as Fred took a poke in the ribs from Daphne as George said "smooth, Dad."
"So, can we get a tour of the new house?" asked Daphne. "And how big is this monster, anyway?"
"As big as it needs to be," Velma responded. "We close off sections that we don't use during the year, opening them on demand; however, with all of the Shuttle work and the visitors that we get, we don't close off the house near as much as we had thought it would be. The controls that Jonathan designed are wonderful. Guys, why don't you help Jonathan move the monster food load from the kitchen to the dining room while I take the girls on a quick tour."
"But, we're not splitting up properly," whined Fred as he punched Velma in the arm.
"Save us some dinner; and there might be others coming if their flights weren't delayed, so don't devour everything in sight," admonished Velma, looking squarely at Fred, James, George, who mumbled "yes, ma'am" since that's exactly what they were planning to do. Julie and Allison each followed their mom and Velma as they went down the first hall, listening to Velma discuss the mesquite floors.
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Velma, Daphne, and the girls came back into the dining room just in time to see the guys bringing the last of the meal to the table and hear the doorbell announce the next guests.
"Watch this," Velma chuckled as she ran to the front window, looked thru the sheers on the front window again and saw the outlines of more people on the front porch outside, even dimmer as the snow blew harder.
"Who is it?" she asked again, sweetly.
"Randi Ram ror Relma," called an unusual voice.
"Scooby Jr!" Velma shouted and flung the door open, moving aside quickly to avoid being trampled by the Great Dane.
"Rit's roooollllddddd!" he shouted as he skidded on the hardwood floors and crashed, belly-first, into the fireplace base. "Raaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhh," was his response as he settled in to get warm.
"That looks like a comfy spot," said the tall man as he stepped inside the door. "Mind if I do the same, Velma?"
"Only if you do it with me, Shaggy," Velma purred, and then punched Shaggy Rogers in the arm. "How'ya doing, guy?"
"Flying high, Velma, but only in planes, thank you very much." Shaggy handed her his coat as she held out one arm, then grabbed her and pulled her into a tight hug.
"How's that guy been treating you, Velma? Not as good as I did, I hope."
"Too bad; Shaggy. I'm disgustingly happy here, and I even love Texas!"
"But not as much as she loves me," came Jonathan's voice from the kitchen.
"Hush, love. Shaggy, I only married him because he cooks … such wonderful meals" clarifying herself after having already blushed the first time that she didn't clarify. She continued, "Where's Mary Jane?"
"She is coming later; she has a previous engagement," Shaggy responded..
"Care to join us for supper?" Velma smiled with a wicked grin. "Jonathan made a wild chorizo casserole."
"Ro, Boy!" Scooby jumped up from the fireplace and ran into the dining room.
"Everyone for themselves!" Fred and Daphne yelled at the same time, laughing as the walked into the dining room hand in hand.
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"Jonathan, that meal was exquisite!" said Fred as he fell into one of the love seats.
"Yea, man: you sure can stir up a mean chorizo casserole," Shaggy agreed as he and Scooby fell onto a couch.
"Thank you," said Jonathan, as he took Velma's hand as they sat with her in the chairs next to the fireplace that faced into the room.
"Velma, there's something – " Daphne started and Velma cut her off.
"I know what you're going to ask, Daph. I told you I'd never discuss it unless Jonathan was with me, and never unless I could explain it properly. Tonight's the perfect night: Christmas Eve, with the snow roaring, the fire roaring, and friends all around me."
Velma stopped, looked lovingly at Jonathan, and continued. "What happened to me was a gift, although I did not know it at the time. This is the proper time for us to tell you about our very own Christmas miracle.
Jonathan squeezed her hand, and continued for her. "…and I can tell you what this wonderful woman has meant to me, and how she came into my life. The irony is that the same event happening to each of us started us on the path that has led us here."
Daphne gasped. "You don't mean –" and Velma cut her off again.
"Yes, I do, Daph. Everybody get comfortable; the kids are old enough to hear this. Jonathan and I started our paths towards each other with funerals. Jonathan lost his fiancée, and I lost a husband," Velma looked at Jonathan with a single tear coming down, and asked softly, "Do you want to start?"
"Certainly, love." He looked, kissed her tenderly, and then turned back to the group. His demeanor visibly changed from comfortable to one who has experienced much pain. "Daphne, I had just buried my fiancée, and I did not know if I wanted to live or die..."
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