Shortly after breakfast Christina and Shaggy loaded into her car and went to the store. Along the way, Shaggy kept his eyes on the ever-changing scenery. Seeing him act like this made Christina grin in amusement. This world was so new, so interesting to Shaggy that he could not bear to look away because if he did he might have missed something. Meanwhile, Christina kept her eyes fixed on the road. At some points, Shaggy would ask a question or two and she gave him an answer.

When they reached the rather large supermarket, Christina had Shaggy hang onto the cart much like a mother would make her child. Not that Shaggy minded. He really did not want to get lost in such a big unusual place like this.

The supermarket appeared to be busting at the seams with busy shoppers of all different kinds and it both intrigued and frightened Shaggy. His fear wasn't helped by the looks that passerby gave him.

All the new sights, sounds, and smells were all overwhelming and at times Shaggy felt like he might faint. Then there was Christina who reminded him he hadn't ventured in this place by himself. She laid her hand over his trembling one and assured him that it was okay, that they were nearly done. For the first time since stepping into the store Shaggy actually looked at the cart and was taken aback to learn that Christina was right. They were nearly done. The cart was stocked with milk, eggs and, fabric softener among other things. Had he really been that distracted?

Soon, they were back at Christina's house unloading the groceries. Well, Christina was unloading the groceries. Shaggy was currently shaking on the couch. Overwhelmed was an understatement.

"Clearly, I did not think that through," Christina muttered as she shut the fridge and grabbed her phone.

She dialed Clawdeen's number with one hand while she fetched water for Shaggy. She pressed the phone to her ear as she passed the glass to Shaggy.

She slipped back into the dining room in order to talk with Clawdeen while Shaggy collected himself.

"Hang on, he came from the human world?" Clawdeen asked.

"Yes,"

"He had no idea he was a werewolf?"

"None,"

"Now, he's trying to adjust and you need my help?"

"What is this twenty questions?"

"Sorry, Christy. I'll be right over,"

"Thank you,"

…...

Shaggy sat shaking on the couch. His newly improved senses were going crazy. It was frightening and he didn't know if he would ever get used to it. He smelt Christina before he even saw her. It was strange that he was able to pinpoint where she was based on where her scent was coming from. Roses, paint, and perfume that's what she smelt like. Then she dropped on the couch beside him. He turned to face her and saw the concern etched in her face. He gave her a weak smile.

"I'm sorry, I didn't think-"

"No, it was like, my fault. I wanted to go," Shaggy interrupted her.

Christina looked like she didn't believe him. Like she wanted to fight him about it but she held her tongue. Before he could say anything else to her the doorbell rang and Christina got up to see who it was, checking out the window before answering the door. Three werewolves entered and Shaggy had a distinct feeling that he was the reason they were there.

"Shaggy, This is Clawdeen, Clawd and, Howleen. They're going to help you adjust,"

"Hi," Shaggy greeted nervously.

"Hello, Shaggy," Clawdeen greeted gently before she turned to Christina.

"Christy, may we move this outside?"

"Yes, but, stay-"

"Away from the roses," the three siblings finished in unison.

Christina laughed and Shaggy's heart went soaring much to his confusion. Clawdeen seemed to pick up on Shaggy's feelings as she shot him a sly smirk.

Shaggy was nervous as they moved outside taking special care to avoid the rose garden as told. This confused Shaggy but when he inquired about it the trio dodged the question and instead sat Shaggy down as they launched into the basics of being a werewolf.

…...

While the Wolf siblings tried their best to teach Shaggy, Christina returned to work in her art studio. Sitting down at her desk where her current commission stared her in the face. She had a deadline to meet so she set to work.

She wasn't sure how long she'd been working when she finally finished and stuffed the finished work in a folder to be mailed to the publishing house. She cleared off her desk and stood from her seat. As she turned to leave she caught sight of the trunk in the corner, for a moment time froze. Open me it seemed to say to her. Christina took a small step toward the trunk only to turn and run. Nope, today was not the day to go down that road and cry. No, today, she would ignore it and pretend she had not seen the trunk.

Christina fled to her room where her cat was sleeping on the pillow. He cracked an eye open as Christina sat down and drew her knees to her chest as she took a deep calming breath. The bright orange tabby cat stood up, stretched and then leaped into Christina's lap. He purred as he settled back down and Christina couldn't help but smile.

"Good ole Ace," Christina chuckled as she stroked the cat lovingly.

After a few minutes, Christina lifted the cat off of her in order to stretch out better. She grabbed a book from her nightstand and began to read it. For a fleeting moment, she was curious to see how Shaggy was doing but decided against it. Surely they were doing okay. Besides, this was Christina's downtime.

…...

Shaggy was distracted. Very distracted. Why? The Roses. He wanted to know why the roses were a touchy subject. Blame it on years of solving mysteries but he wanted to know. Badly. The Wolf trio gave up for now. At least they had taught Shaggy the basics and how to get his senses under control. Now, they sat in lawn chairs sipping lemonade despite the chilly weather. Clawdeen eyed Shaggy who continued to stare at the rose garden. She was beginning to suspect in his daze last night he had imprinted on Christina without realizing he had done so. He didn't even know what imprinting was yet so there was no way of actually knowing.

The back door opened and Christina stepped outside with a watering can. Clawdeen watched as Shaggy tracked Christina's every movement in the garden. He seemed tense. Ready to jump up at a moments notice if Christina got hurt. Clawdeen smirked as she elbowed her brother. He did the same thing with Draculaura. After Christina had watered her flowers she disappeared into the house only to reappear minutes later with a tray of food for them. When they'd all eaten they went back into the house. It was so warm inside which was a welcome change from the cold winds that howled outside the windows.

The Wolf siblings said their goodbyes and left shortly afterward.

Christina slipped into the kitchen, deciding to bake a pie out of boredom and Shaggy followed her. Taking a seat at the kitchen island he was happy to watch Christina make the crust. Seeing her do this reminded Shaggy of his childhood. Trips to his grandmother's house where he would sit at the kitchen table while she baked cookies and told him stories about the fae realm. She'd tell it with such detail that it transported the then six-year-old to a place of magic filled with creatures he'd never seen Shaggy was beginning to wonder if she had actually been here before.

Shaggy had no way of actually knowing since his grandmother had passed on a few years ago but he would always wonder.

The smell of a pie baking in the oven roused Shaggy from his thoughts. Gosh, he really needed to stop doing that. He realized that Christina now sat across from him with her head bent over a sketchbook and a pencil in hand.

"What were you thinking about?" she asked without looking away from her work.

"When I was a kid,"

"What was it like?"

"Good, mostly. My father was-is a cop and my mother was a businesswoman. They both worked long shifts so I spent most of my time at my friend, Fred's house. His mom would take us to the playground and that's where we met Daphne and Velma. Like, when I was five my father brought home a puppy he had rescued and gave him to me. Scooby and I have done everything together ever since. Or, we used to,"

Shaggy seemed saddened and Christina couldn't help but wonder if there was something, anything she could do to cheer him up. There had to be a way to get around the closed portals. A way to bring at least one of Shaggy's friends or family members here to cheer him up. After all, Christina knew what it was like to miss someone you loved. She knew all too well. She vowed to herself she would find a way to make him happy. She couldn't bear the sadness in his eyes as she looked up from her sketchbook.

Hesitantly, she reached across the island and grasped his hand.

"I'm sorry. I really, really am," she whispered.

"You don't have to be sorry. It like, isn't your fault,"

"I feel like I'm partly to blame. After all, I brought you here, to begin with,"

"I like, would've died if you hadn't, remember?"

"Yeah,"

Christina stood from her place at the island to get the pie out of the oven before it burned. She set it on the counter to cool and returned to the island to see Shaggy craning his neck to see what she had drawn. Christina sat back down and pushed the sketchbook to Shaggy so he could take a look. She watched as he flipped through the book before stopping and turning it so she could see.

"Is this you?"

Christina's heart twisted.

"No, that's my mother," she answered truthfully.

She knew she couldn't escape talking about her parents. After all, there were pictures of them throughout the house. Shaggy was bound to ask at some point.

She knew it wasn't healthy to avoid the subject forever but oh how she wanted to.

"You look like her," Shaggy declared.

"That's what everyone says,"

Inside Christina was willing the feeling of sadness to go away. To leave her alone but it would not and Christina was worried tears were coming. Tears were not good.

Don't cry.

Don't cry.

It'd been six years she didn't want to cry.

…...

Shaggy knew she was sad. He didn't know exactly how he knew he just did. He felt this need to make her feel better and that was only strengthened when he saw the tears prick the corners of her eyes. He stood up and moved to sit beside her before she utmently broke down into tears. He let his instinct take it from there as he lifted her and carried her to the couch. Although surprised at how strong he had become he did not have time to marvel at that. Instead, he sat Christina down before joining her on the couch. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close. He just sat there wiping away her tears.

"Shh, Shh, I'm sorry, I'm sorry,"

"I c-can't cry. I-i shouldn't cry," Christina choked out.

"Like, it's okay to cry, Christina,"

"No-no,"

"Yes, it is,"

"No-"

"Yes,"

"But-"

"No, buts,"

Christina cried and cried and cried. Shaggy never let go of her. It was clear she had buried some sort of trauma.

Shaggy decided he would help her.

The end of the chapter has come. What did you think? Who caught my little easter egg? Please write a nice long review for me and I'll see you soon