Before they could react Daphne grabbed a handful of Velma's hair and yanked her head back, pulling her to her feet as she did so. Daphne was just about to deliver a tirade of verbal abuse when a voice called out from behind her "Velma dear, oh thank goodness you're safe! I was so worried." Velma's mother came rushing past Daphne to embrace her daughter, Velma was on the verge of tears again, Fred could see in her eyes the hurt Daphne had caused.
"She won't be safe for long," growled Daphne quietly, the presence of Velma's mother being the only thing preventing her from dragging Velma out by the hair, beating her to a pulp then throwing her on the compost heap. Daphne turned to vent her anger on Fred but paused when she saw the fury in his face.
"Daphne!" though he had whispered the anger in his voice caused her to step back "I can't believe you just did that! Some thugs just tried to kidnap Velma." Daphne felt the bottom fall out of her world, but before she could say or do anything Velma spoke up.
"I, I need to be, somewhere else," sobbed Velma she took hold of her mother's hand and held out her hand to Fred, he paused for a second then took it and left. Time slowed for Daphne, Velma gave Daphne a brief, but bitter glance, in that instant Daphne could read the story of the betrayal Velma felt, Fred's face was one of indignation. As they left she looked at Fred and Velma, he was still holding her hand in his as their arm swung forward but as they sung back; their fingers were now firmly entwined. Daphne stared at the strands of Velma's hair in her hands what have I done she cried to herself trying to hold in the tears.
Shaggy headed over to the diner as soon as he had finished his demonstration, he was keen to check on Velma and to see what had really happened, Fred's message had been brief but it sounded like something had gone down. He walked in and stopped in his tracks trying to work out what had happened. Daphne was sitting at a table and looked in a terrible state; hiding under the opposite table was Scooby peeking out from behind his paws. He sat down opposite Daphne, it took a few moments before she finally she noticed him.
"Shaggy?"
"Daph, like what happened?" he held her hands in his, stroking her hands with this thumbs.
"I made a terrible mistake; I really lost my temper with Velma."
"Like you've lost your temper with Velma loads of times, especially when shopping so what's the big deal?"
"I mean really lost my temper," Shaggy followed her gaze to the strands of auburn hair in her hand
"Is, is that Velma's hair?" Shaggy asked quietly his voice rising with surprise, he looked up, Daphne nodded, her eyes brimming with tears.
"Oh," there wasn't much else he felt he could say.
Shaggy was on the phone to Fred, Daphne could just about make out his voice as he described what happened. Suddenly the voice changed, Velma was on the line, Daphne cringed inside when she heard Velma break down in tears, Fred came on for a few seconds then the call ended. Shaggy put his phone away, closed his eyes and took a deep breath as he planned what to say.
"Shaggy? So it really happened?" Daphne knew for Velma to be that upset something bad had to have happened.
"Like its true Daph, I saw some shifty looking people asking after her and sent Scooby to keep an eye on them then called Fred as I knew he was nearby."
"Just how close was it," asked Daphne quietly. Shaggy looked at the floor and shuffled his feet
"Scooby and Fred got to her just in time, they were about to take her to their car. Literally a minute later and we would now be scratching our heads wondering where Velma is."
"And that's why Fred was holding her that way?" snapped Daphne, there was still bitterness in her voice as if she was trying to justify her actions, even if only to herself. Shaggy was confused the 'that way' remark. Fred had comforted Velma many times in the past and Daphne had never freaked out before, even when they had been dating, hell Fred had even comforted him when Scooby had been ill.
"She was utterly petrified Daph. They're a real nasty bunch by all accounts; they slapped her round the face a couple of times and threatened to keep her for days even after they had got the orchid. Man it took Fred ages to calm her down."
Daphne stared out of the window in despair and shame as she realised her little tantrum in the diner had probably all but ruined her friendship with Velma, plus scuppered her chances of getting back together with Fred for the foreseeable future. Time for anger management classes Daphne old girl, she thought.
"Daph," said Shaggy quietly as he sat next to her and put an arm round her shoulders to comfort her "Velma doesn't bear grudges; she won't stay mad for long."
"But, Fred, how he was holding her, she was just letting him..." Shaggy shook his head.
"But you're not seeing Fred anymore; you can't treat him like he belongs to you. That's won't win him over for sure. Anyway aren't you obsessing over him a bit I mean when you were dating you never seemed to be that happy. You seem much happier as friends and there are plenty more fish in the sea." Shaggy wrapped his arms around Daphne; she tensed for a second then rested her head on his shoulder. Daphne sighed, Velma always said Shaggy was one of the best huggers she knew and again she was right. She knew he was right about Fred, she'd been told for so long that they were perfect for each other that she'd believed it. Daphne relaxed and let herself be wrapped up in his arms, it felt so good and was just what she needed right now; she wondered why she hadn't done this more often.
By mid-afternoon Daphne had gone home leaving Shaggy and Scooby at the festival. They still had another demonstration plus they had some chilli-peppers to harvest. They would have gone home after that had it not for them receiving a summons from the chairman of the Country Club. Ever nervous, fearing that someone had got sick eating a sample of the their food, they went to the board room only to be presented with formal framed letter of thanks, an offer of a free meal at the Club and a large box with a thank-you card attached. It transpired that Fred had told the committee of Shaggy's quick thinking and Scooby's bravery 'in the preservation and defense of the dignity and person of Miss Velma Dinkley' said the letter, written in copperplate which made it look even better. After handshakes and a toast of brandy which was older than Shaggy's father, the pair carried the box down towards a seating area on the side of wide tree-lined avenue of grass which lead up to the members-only area. They sat down and opened the box to reveal the reward to end all rewards.
"Mmmmmm," Shaggy sighed as he finished off his forth box of Scooby Snacks "Ten boxes each," Shaggy again read the note attached to the boxes "'A token of our thanks, Love Fred and Velma.'"
"Reah," replied Scooby "Ren roxes reach."
"Man what a day Scoob." said Shaggy as he sat next to Scooby on the bench "The fewer of those we have the better. Snacks or no snacks, I'd rather this day hadn't happened." He stretched out to relax, it was now early evening and as the festival was over for the day, they were taking the opportunity to enjoy the peace and quiet before heading home.
"Reah. Ris Relma rok?"
"Yeah Scoob, I had a quick chat to her and Fred, she's doing OK. I think she's at home now having a rest. Fred took it quite badly as well, we've had some close calls before, but that was like, the closest."
"Rou red rit. Raphne and Relma?"
"That was just nasty. Velma's almost as upset with what Daphne did as with what nearly happened to her. Daph, well she can't believe she did that." he sighed "I think they'll make up but it will take a bit of time for things to settle down..."
"Hi guys," said a couple of voices behind them.
"Aaaah!" both Shaggy and Scooby leap into the nearest tree and hung there clinging to a branch. Shaggy looked down to see Fred and Velma standing together looking up at them with amused expressions on their faces. Velma was holding onto Fred's arm for support, trying not to laugh too much.
"Come on down you two, it's only us," called Fred.
"Errr hi Velma, Fred. What are you two doing here besides creeping up on a harmless chief and his dog then scaring them?" replied Shaggy still clinging to the branch.
"Reah, raring rhem," agreed Scooby sticking his head out from the leaves.
"Fred and his parents are taking my parents and I for a meal at the country club. My parents and I will take you two out for a meal to thank you when the festival is over."
"Like no worries Velma, but thanks we'll be there."
"Can you come down out of that tree Shag my neck is starting to hurt; I need a quick word."
"Like OK," as the pair half climbed, half fell out of the tree, Velma drew Shaggy to one side then almost squeezed the life out of him with a bone-crushing hug.
"Thank you," They'd known each other long enough that she didn't need to say any more.
"Like anytime Velma," said Shaggy stroking her hair.
"There's one more thing, can you keep an eye on Daphne please, I'm as mad as hell with her just right now but I guess she feels awful at the moment. If I spoke to her now I know I'd only make things worse so please make sure she's OK I don't want to see her doing anything stupid, understand?"
"Will do Velms, Scoob and I will head over there now."
"Thanks Shag. I really appreciate it."
Together they cleared away the rubbish and packed the unopened boxes up. Shaggy and Scooby headed for the car-park, Scooby looked behind for one final wave. He glanced back again to see Velma re-join Fred, take his hand and walk off towards the country club.
Soon they were at Daphne's house, some lights were on but he wasn't sure of anyone was home, Shaggy was convinced that he'd wear-out his doorbell pressing finger, finally Daphne opened the door; she was dressed for bed wrapped up in her dressing gown.
"Oh Shag. I, I didn't expect to see you at this hour."
"Yeah, thought you might want some company," Velma was right, Daphne looked awful. He resolved that she wouldn't be alone tonight and he wasn't going to take no for an answer.
"I, I'm not sure."
"Well I know you have some hot chocolate that needs some company so can I?"
"Sure." It was only a little smile, but his heart was warmed by it.
They went into the den, it was clear that Daphne had been trying to fall asleep here in front of the TV, rather than in her bed where the only company would be her thoughts. There were empty pizza boxes and ice-cream tubs; she'd obviously been self-medicating on comfort food. Shaggy sat on the sofa and held out his arms, Daphne didn't hesitate to take up the offer and allowed herself to be wrapped up in his arms again. It was just as good as last time.
"What's eating you Daph?" he said softly.
"I just can't sleep, when I close my eyes all I can see is Velma's face. I've never seen her so hurt we've been friends since we were tiny, I can't believe it's all over now." Daphne voice was one of resigned sadness.
"Daph, it was Velma who asked me to make sure you were OK, sure she's angry at the moment, but she doesn't hate you." I don't think he added silently, it was hard to quickly read Velma's moods at the best of times, but when she chose to play her cards close to her chest it was all but impossible.
"She, she did?" Daphne looked up. Shaggy nodded, running his fingers through her hair and stroked her head in a soothing manner. Normally if someone did this to Daphne they would soon be on the floor looking for their teeth but Shaggy's hands were calming and soothing. Things were now more right in the world than wrong.
"Now, how about that hot chocolate?"
Many hours later saw the pair on the floor; Daphne was resting against the sofa with Shaggy lying on a thick fluffy rug next to her.
"Like shouldn't you go to bed, the floor here is OK for me."
"No Shag, I don't think I can move after so much hot chocolate."
Daphne lay down and rested her head on his stomach. A potentially foolhardy move an a stomach capable of digesting just about anything. Shaggy stroked her head.
"Don't worry Daph, I'll be the go-between with you two. But let Velma make the first move, then you'll know she'll be ready."
Daphne managed to reach up and pull couple of throws off her sofa to cover them up with and a scatter cushion for Shaggy's head. Soon both were asleep with Daphne using Shaggy's stomach as a pillow. Her dreams though peaceful were filled with strange rumblings and cacophonous gurgling noises.