The next day saw blue skies with a gentle breeze, perfect weather for the first day of the festival and the crowds flocked in. Daphne was sitting with Shaggy on a low wall overlooking the main show area people watching while Scooby was lying on the softest area of grass he could find soaking up some sun. Finally Daphne confided with Shaggy about her plan to win Fred back and that she was thinking of enlisting Velma to help.

"I'm not sure Velma would want to get involved, you know how hurt she got when you two split-up. I don't think she wants to go there again."

Daphne sighed "I know Shag I know, I mentioned it to her yesterday and I thought she was going to be ill. None of us want to go through that again."

"That's for sure. Are you sure that's a good idea though? I mean Fred's a great guy he's always looked out for you but…"

"What do you mean Shag?"

"Well why Fred?"

"Emm, I…" Daphne paused, Shaggy had a point why Fred indeed? True he would, no she reminded herself he had put his life in danger helping her and if there was ever a crisis Fred would be on the top of the list of people she'd want alongside her. Everyone had always said they were perfect together, suited for each other, everyone that was except... her and Fred, had they even stopped to ask themselves those questions? Shaggy saw the expression on her face he reached out and stroked Daphne's upper arm and shoulder.

"Like I didn't mean to upset you I just don't want you to go through that again." Least of all he wanted to find Velma hiding under his bed again to upset to even speak.

"No Shag, you just got me thinking. You're cleverer the Velma at times."

"Like I am?" he gave a big cheesy grin.

"Well not cleverer but, but some other word, smarter, no emmm…"

"Hungrier."

"Yes hungrier, no that's not what I'm saying!" Daphne laughed giving him a playful push.

"Hey, I'm delicate and fragile," said Shaggy pushing back.

"Oh yeah we'll see about that…" soon the pair were pushing, prodding and generally engaged in some light-hearted horse-play. After a few minutes they had to calm down, they flopped on the ground and rested against each other while they caught their breath and the laughter subsided. Shaggy missed this kind of fun, when they were younger he and Velma used to muck about like this all the time, but too many damaged and broken glasses plus the subsequent roasting from her parents put paid to that. Now she paid for her own glasses she did indulge when she was in the mood. Rough-housing with Daphne was more fun than with Velma simply because she tended to play games for keeps, which was good when the game was 'keep Shaggy out of harm's way' but with Daphne it had been fun for the sake of fun.

"Like I've gotta get ready for my cooking demo," said Shaggy looking at his watch. He stood up and offered Daphne his hand and helped her up. He was acutely aware of her long slender fingers holding onto his hand.

"Thanks for that. Well have fun then, I've got to go get a birthday present for a friend."

"Like, em see you later."

"Yeah, good, see you soon." Finally their hands parted.

Shaggy had just finished all the preparations for his cooking demonstration and was spending the last few minutes walking about near the stage mentally rehearsing what he was to do when he noticed a group of people, a woman and two men, acting suspiciously. They seemed to be looking for some something or someone but trying not to be noticed which is what caught his attention in the first place. He and Scooby crept closer to see what was going on while they were talking one of the event marshals.

"… no Harold and Marilyn aren't here at the moment, I could pass a message…"

"We need to leave soon, is their daughter here? We would rather speak with her as it concerns a private family matter," replied the woman firmly. The tone of her voice and the group's mannerism set all kinds of alarm bells ringing in Shaggy's head, he knew Velma's family very well and they didn't come over as being connected with any part of the Dinkley clan.

"I, I think she's having lunch in the 60's diner," replied the marshal trying to be helpful pointing in its general direction.

"Thank you," replied the woman and one of the men headed for the diner, the other walked quickly to the car park.

Would Norville Rogers please go to the cooking demonstration immediately –Shaggy cursed the PA announcer's timing.

"Scooby, you follow them and look after Velma, I'll call for back-up," he whispered to Scooby who needed no further instruction on that front. As Shaggy headed back to the demonstration he took out his cell-phone and made a call "Fred, this is important…"

Velma was sitting in a corner booth at the 60's style diner taking advantage of her parents being judges in getting a free lunch before meeting them at the orchid house. Thinking about Shaggy's cooking demonstration had made her hungry. She was slightly distracted by the sound of a car door slamming nearby but quickly resumed staring out of the window. She was quietly munching her way through a chilli-dog when a voice called her name. Velma looked up to see three people, a tall heavy-set lady in a business suit with a sour pinched-in face which made Velma think she'd been eating lemons who was accompanied by two burly men, both with similar suits and haircuts.

"Are you Velma Dinkley? The daughter of a Harold and Marilyn Dinkley?" asked the woman in a forthright tone of voice.

"Yes and yes," replied Velma. At that one of the men sat next to her, pressing her up against the wall, the other man sat facing her and the woman sat in the only available seat diagonally opposite Velma. Before she could react the man next to her pulled her tightly to him, the man opposite grabbed both her hands and held them together in front of her.

"Don't speak just stay still and listen," muttered the man next to Velma in low threatening tones.

The woman produced a wide roll of clear plastic tape and quickly wrapped multiple turns round Velma's wrists then hands. She then gave the man sitting next to Velma several of strips of tape which he pressed firmly over and around Velma's mouth. To finish the job he placed a strip of tape running from under her chin to each of her cheeks. Velma looked at her hands, the tape was almost invisible. To make the point the woman held up a compact mirror to show Velma her face, it just looked like her mouth was closed. She quietly tried to open her mouth, if she could call out for help she had a chance but her jaw wouldn't budge, no one would notice the danger she was in. To make matters worse none of the gang knew she was here, Shaggy was doing his cooking demonstration, Daphne had gone into town and Fred was meeting friends at the Country Club. The woman gave her a hard unforgiving stare then spoke.

"We have a proposition to put to your parents." Velma listened in mounting panic as the woman spoke "Let me explain, we are going to go for a very long drive together, in a few days' time you'll send your parents a video telling them that you went for a ride with some friends who would like to swap you for the orchid. You can tell your parents that if they bring the orchid as instructed then a few days after we've picked it up and are safely away we'll tell them where they'll be able to find you," she nodded to the man holding Velma and he began to move out of his seat dragging a terrified Velma with him, her eyes widened as the reality of what was about to happen began to hit home. Velma tried to make as much noise through her gag as possible, hoping to attract attention but the diner was deserted. All she got was a couple of hard slaps round the face for her trouble from the woman which nearly sent her glasses flying.

"Our car's just outside so don't bother unless you want some more, time to hit the road sweetie..."

The woman paused as she became aware of a jaw holding onto her forearm, the grip was gentle, but firm enough to ensure that the recipient was fully aware of all the teeth that were available to the jaw's owner. In addition it was delivered in such a way that made it all too obvious that should the owner of said jaw wish, they could and would apply as much force as they wanted. A low menacing growl caused the two men to pause. Velma pulled her hands away from the man opposite and removed the tape from her mouth as best she could.

"Let me introduce you to Scooby Doo, he's 100 pounds of Great Dane and very protective of his friends." Velma enunciated her words with as much menace as her trembling voice could muster, Scooby gave another threatening growl and increased the pressure of his bite so as to emphasise the point.

The next few seconds were a blur for Velma. All of a sudden a pair of arms descended either side of her, under her arms then pulled her up and over the seat, the next she realised she was being held by Fred, he turned his back to the booth so as to shield her with his body. Before any of the crooks could react to what was going it was all over as police officers swarmed around them and lead them away. Fred gently removed the remaining tape from her face and hands keeping eye contact all the time he did so. There were already angry red marks coming up on her face where she had been slapped.

"You're safe now. OK Velms?" he asked trying to mask the fear in his voice.

Velma shook her head "Freddie," she replied quietly as the tears came. Fred held her tightly and gently rocked her; she wasn't the only one who had been scared he could see Scooby shudder with relief.

"Good job Scooby," he whispered.

With a free hand he sent a text message to Shaggy that Velma was safe then he turned his full attention to Velma.

Daphne drove through the gates of the Country Club just as a police wagon left. Obviously something had happened as it looked like a few people had been arrested. Having parked, Daphne strolled around the festival, stopping off at a couple of stalls on the way to her next session with Shaggy. She got wind that the something that had happened took place in or near the 60's diner, as she approached she saw nothing untoward odd she thought there's no real commotion going on - boring. Daphne went into the strangely empty diner and almost fainted from shock. There was Velma, contentedly snuggled up on Fred's lap, resting her head on his chest. He was holding her so tenderly and lovingly, gently stroking her back and hair, making quiet soothing noises as he did so. Velma's face, though flushed, was one of peace and contentment; she was looking down and stroking Scooby's head with one hand and holding tightly onto Fred with the other. Velma looked up at Fred, her face aglow, she reached up and gave him a tender kiss on the lips, saying something too soft for Daphne to hear, but it caused Fred to give a gentle smile as he gazed at Velma, he reached down and gently caressed her face, she met his gaze and she smiled back. The way he looked at her, the way he held her, the way he touched her all consumed Daphne with jealousy, but the way Velma let Fred look at, hold and touch her was the last straw; her blood began to boil and felt the red mist descend. "You Judas Velma!" shrieked Daphne as she stormed towards her.