It was the first time that day, Shaggy had emerged from the kitchen when Fred had called out to him. Peeking his head from the door, he was greeted by cheerful exclamations from his two little buddies.

Sure, Scooby was his number one best buddy and best pal, but that didn't mean he couldn't have more then one. Scooby was just top dog, in more ways then one.

"Thomas! Daniel! Like' it's great for you guys to make it." Shaggy came out and fell to a knee so that the two young boys were able to give him a hug. Since they lived in the same neighborhood, Shaggy had run into the boys several other times in the park. Also a few times with Scooby, who the boys had been scared at first about. But soon they had all become friends, and sometimes Shaggy and the gang had been called to keep an eye on the two boys. It turned out that Shaggy's mom had babysat the young mother of the two boys and also had been called upon to give the little ones a place to stay while their mother had to do something.

"Grammy Magi brought us here!" Chirped the happy Daniel. Grammy Magi being the nickname the two little boys had taken a shine to for calling Shaggy's mother, named Marjorie. Looking up, Shaggy noticed his mother, father and little sister standing there waiting for him to notice. He blushed for missing them, and detached the kids from around his neck to give his give his family a warm hug.

"I'm like' so glad you guys could make it."

"You think we would miss coming to a party you guys took all the time to put together? Silly brother." Chuckling, Maggie gave her older brother a hug, ruffling his hair though it wouldn't make it any worse then normal.

"Now stand up straight Norville, you have guests here." His mother chided. Shaggy responded by trying to straighten up as best as he could. Giggling, Daniel and Thomas copied the older man's silly rigid posture, though they quickly fell to the floor laughing instead. Shaggy wished he could as well.

"Now now, be easy on the boy." Came the level headed words of his father. "He's probably been hard at work over a hot oven. He's probably got that way from working so hard. It would give anyone a crick in the back. Relax son."

Shaggy was thankful for his father's kind words. Plus it was also important to obey the local sheriff.

"Rello... Rello." Came the sounds of the trotting hound, already greeting company before he even got out of the kitchen. As the Dane poked his head around the corner, he first noticed Thomas and Daniel. He made a quick dart and was beside the two boys, washing them with doggy kisses. A cough from Samuel, Shaggy's father, Scooby looked up. Parting, his scruffy counterparts parents moved out of the way to show the other two visitors that had come along for the ride.

"Rada r'and Romsy Doo!" Dashing from the two boys, Scooby scrambled across the pizzeria floor to give his parents a hug. Nuzzled and licks were exchanged as they switched to their native tongue, though it seemed like Momsy Doo was lecturing her son about not washing behind his ears enough and if he had cleaned his paws well enough before coming out. Mom lectures traversed languages.

Fred watched as the two guys wandered into the main room with the families to introduce them to everyone else who came before. Thomas and Daniel had vanished as well, leaving Fred alone by the front.

Leaning back, he wondered how the cooks were doing. With the Duo out of the kitchen, it must have been a relief back there. Slipping off the stool, he placed it back on its four feet and poked his head back into the kitchen.

"How's it going back here?" Fred watched as the two brothers ran about, getting things ready. Hearing the sound of Fred's voice, Mr. McNallie looked over from where he had been supervising. He gave Fred a wave, recognizing him from all those times the poor guy had been conned to be Daphne's bag boy. Not to mention they lived on the same block.

"Howdy Fred. Everything peachy back here. Thanks for hauling those two hogs out from under foot. I'll be getting things out soon. Is everyone here yet?" The old man wondered, shouting a bit to get over the din of all the cooking food around him.

"Not yet, but most of the people have arrive. We are still waiting on a few more still." Fred responded.

"Ah, good. I'll have to make an appearance soon. Got to keep face, eh? Keep up the good work Frederick!"

Shaking his head, Fred pulled himself out of the hot kitchen. It wasn't like he disliked his full name, it just sounded weird sometimes coming out of some people.

"Freeeeeeeederick!" The sing song voice chimed out from behind him. It was not hard for the man to identify the voice of the woman calling his name. Turning around, he gave a wave.

"Hiya Mom."

"Don't Hiya mom me, mister. Come and give your mommy a hug!" Waving her arms, Peggy Jones signaled for her son to come around the counter and give her a big hug. With the sigh only a son could make because of his mother, he came over and gave his mom a hug.

FLASH!

"Looking good Freddie boy!" Chirped his father, who of course had his camera in hand. It was not hard to see how his uncle had gotten into the magazine business with his older brother, Fred's dad, taking pictures of anything and everything. And sometimes getting himself to excited, Skip Jones sometimes didn't hold the camera steady and made for some interesting pictures.

Leaning out an arm, Fred tried to get his father closer to hug him as well. But his mother wasn't letting go, so it was making it hard.

"Um, Ma... Can you let up a bit?" He mumbled into her hug.

"Oh, sorry. I don't know my own strength." Releasing him from the hug, Fred stumbled back only to be caught by his father. He gave him a rough hug, pulling him off the ground from behind before he was dropped to his feet. Wobbling, Fred caught himself on the counter while his feet regained their strength. Though he was almost knocked over as Skip gave him a hearty slap on the shoulder.

"Alright Buddy boy, we're off to join the hullabaloo! Keep up the good work son!"

And as quickly as they came, the two parents faded into the growing mass of guests into the main room. But as the first flash entered the mass, a shadow came darting behind the counter.

Peering from behind the safety of the large object, a shaky brunette head peeked over the counter top. Wide eyes looked at the main room behind thick, black glasses.

"Your... Parents are here... Aren't they?" Came the shaky voice trying her hardest to hide. Fred didn't need a clue to know who it was. And not only because of her voice or look, but on the fact she absolutely hated her picture being taken for the most part.

On a mystery was fine, but other then that... Velma was petrified of camera's. Well, it wasn't as bad as her fear of clowns, but she certainly didn't like getting it taken. She always felt self conscious.

"But you always look so natural in those photos." Fred commented, having scene many a pictures that his father had taken of the younger woman. When she didn't know it was coming, she usually took a great photo, but once she knew it was coming, she ran for the hills.

"..." She stayed silent for a while, having seen those pictures too. But a few good pictures didn't make up for her dislike of being photographed. "...Still." She grunted out.

"Well, come and keep me company out here. I don't think they will be coming out any time soon. The rest of the guests should occupy them for a while."

Fred thought about it, yeah. There was enough people in there to keep his father's camera happy for now, at least until food arrived. She wouldn't be able to hide then. Unless she didn't want any, though then what would have been the whole point of the party if everyone wasn't there.

Calming down, she knew Fred was right. She just hoped he would run out of film eventually... But it was unlikely, even she knew that. Stupid digital cameras. Sometimes she wished technology wasn't so helpful at times. At least when it came to being a hindrance to her.

A chuckling sounded out in front of them. As the ruckus in the main room had diverted their attention, someone else had entered into the pizzeria. They didn't even notice the jingle of the bells placed above the door.

"What, no hello?" Came the deeper voice of the new guest. He looked neat in the pressed suit he was wearing, with a crisp tie set around his neck. He had taken off his trench coat and laid it over his hand as he reclined against the wall waiting for them to notice him.

"Sorry Jacob, my Father's causing trouble." Fred threw a thumb in the main rooms direction. The constant flashing of the camera was enough to give some idea of what was going on. Though most were not as camera shy as Velma was.

"Hahaha. That's Skip for you." The man responded, pushing off the wall to hang up his coat on the rack. It was starting to look a bit heavy, since everyone was using it for their jackets. It was around the time of the year that things started to get colder, but it wasn't fully winter yet.

"How have you two kids been?" Jacob asked, walking further into the room and chose to sit in the seats placed by the counter usually used for waiting customers.

Though they normally didn't like being called kids now, (being adults after all) certain people were able to get away with it. As long as the word, 'meddling' wasn't in front of it. Though the silver that streaked his hair did give him a bit more room as well. Velma gestured to the commotion going on in the room beyond.

"Business as usual. A little bit of this, a little bit of that." For everything, they life was never really considered all that normal. And this chaos, was certainly a prime example. Though Jacob didn't see to much oddity to it, just a bunch of friends having a good time together in each others company.

"Ha ha. Got ya. Though that looks like fun." Jacob nodded his head towards the direction of the hubbub. It had been a long time since he got to roll of up his sleeves and loosen his tie. It was a chance he had been looking forward too for a while, ever since he had been invited to this crazy shindig.

"Have at." Velma snorted, not wanting to join him since Skip was still at it. She might have mistaken the room for having strobe lights, if she didn't know better. This was a family Italian restaurant, not a rave club. Waving her hands, he grinned and grasped Fred's hand in a quick hand shake before darting into the main room.

"Crazy man." Velma mumbled, sinking against the counter top. Fred smiled back at her, leaning against the front edge he had been using to prop himself up earlier with.

"Well, he is a Lawyer."