Buying the Buick

Summary: For once, Daphne does not split up with Fred, but why the sudden change of heart? Well, to say the least, it has to do with buying a Buick.

Author's Note: This is a challenge write. Somebody challenged me to write it, and I got so into it…well, I took the challenge (duh!). Oh, and buying the Buick does not simply mean to "buy a Buick" as in the car; it has another meaning, too.

Disclaimer: Me no own-y Scooby Doo.

The two teenaged girls pulled up in the incredibly long driveway of the Blake Estate. Daphne sauntered to the porch poked her key, yellow with smiley faces on it, into the door; she turned it, and crept into the seemingly-deserted house. She flicked the light switch and the room filled with streams of light beams. The beautiful accented marble floors glistened in the new-found light, while the mahogany banister twinkled with a specific kind of radiance.

"Mom? Dad? Anybody home?" Daphne had no idea why she even bothered calling that anymore; for, her parents never came home. They were always at another house, or business trip, doing something-or-other. Daphne always seemed to be alone, well, except when Fred would come over. Sometimes, he would even spend the night; keeping the poor girl company, obviously. She closed the door, walked into the living room, plopped down on one of the white leather couches, and suppressed a groan. "Veeelmaa! Come in here!" Velma joined Daphne on the couch, and really wanted to start a serious conversation with her friend; she needed answers.

"I'm here, Daphne," Velma placed a protective hand on Daphne's shoulder. "I really need to discuss this whole situation with you,"

"I knew this moment would come sooner or later," Daphne placed her head on a pillow and sighed. "Ask me whatever,"

"How long have you and Fred been…together?" Velma inquired, clearly meaning at which point they began getting intimate.

"A few months," Daphne explained. "Basically when my parents began leaving for extensive periods of time; he'd come to keep me company,"

"Only when your parents were gone?"

"No, even when they were home; he'd climb up the trellis that's next to my window," Daphne reminisced. "My parents never checked on me to say goodnight, so our plan worked out perfectly well," Velma shifted uncomfortably, although she wanted answers that did not mean she was necessarily at ease with the topic of conversation. She figured that since she basically had all the responds needed, she would endeavor to change the subject matter.

"I'm hungry," Velma declared.

"But, Velma, we just had dinner," Daphne cocked her head, baffled.

"Yeah, I know, but I could have eaten more," Velma emerged from her relaxed position in the couch, and led Daphne into the kitchen. Daphne grabbed some pretzels from the top shelf in the pantry, poured them into a pink plastic bowl, and then led Velma back into the living room. She set the bowl on the coffee table and motioned for Velma to eat a few. Velma kindly took the invitation and stuffed some of the salty snacks into her mouth. "So, when are we going to take that test?"

"Later, I'm not in the mood right now," Daphne moaned. She did not think she would ever be in the mood.

Meanwhile, Fred, Shaggy, and Scooby sat in silence while driving back to their homes. "I wonder what Daphne and Velma are doing right now," Fred thought out loud.

"Yeah, like, me too, I guess," Shaggy agreed. Shaggy really did not care the slightest, but he settled so he would not start a quarrel.

"Why don't we find out?" Fred smirked; the man had a plan.

"Rhat Ro Rou Rean?" Scooby interrogated.

"I mean we should have a stakeout," Fred began while turning to look at the puzzled faces of Scooby and Shaggy. "At Daphne's house,"

"But, why, Freddy?" Shaggy did not know where Fred was going with his preparation.

"I want to know what's going on with Daphne,"

"Suit yourself," Shaggy twisted to Scooby and asked him if he wanted to join in the festivities. Scooby nodded, and then Shaggy turned back to Fred. "We're in,"

"Wonderful," Fred's voice began to trail off as they made a U-turn and drove in the direction of Daphne's house.

"Come on, let's watch a movie," Daphne surfed the channels, to find out if a good movie appeared to be playing. "How about the Graduate?"

"Sounds good," Velma situated herself on one of the chairs and became contented. The red-haired girl set down the remote and lay down on the very same couch she lounged in before. The two girls were completely unaware that two sly gentlemen, and their dog, were rummaging around outside, trying to find a position that let them listen in. They sat in the middle of one of the many bushes on the Blake property and cupped their hands over their ears so they could hear what was going on.

"They're watching the Graduate," Fred contemplated. "Absolutely no conversation regarding Daphne's issue,"

"Fred?" Shaggy piped up, while lowering the hand that was cupped over his left ear. "What makes you think she has an issue?"

"Just trust me on this, okay?" Shaggy nodded, and quickly got back to his intense work. Both men (and the dog) waited against the walls for over an hour, until the film ended. Then, the action started up again.

"I think it's time, Velma," Daphne took a deep breath; knowing that the time had come for her to figure out the truth. Outside, Fred mouthed 'Time for what?' to Shaggy, while Shaggy shook his head.

"Alright," Velma snatched Daphne's green purse and headed upstairs to Daphne's room. Daphne skulked afterwards at a snail's pace.

"Rere rar rey roing?" Scooby questioned. Both Shaggy and Fred shrugged and then bolted to the sidewalk to try to solve the problem. They spotted Velma and Daphne in a lavender bedroom on the second floor. Fred recognized the room as Daphne's.

"Come on," Fred motioned. "I know how to get us up there," He smiled and led the boy and his dog to the side of the house. There, he explained how the red rose trellis would lead exactly up to the window of Daphne's bedroom. "Shaggy, the trellis is only big enough to fit one person, so I'll trust you to tell me exactly what's going on,"

"Why don't you do it yourself?" He asked, not really wanting to venture out on his own.

"Daphne will know if it's me," Fred clarified. "Go on, Shaggy,"

"Fine," Shaggy started his ascent to Daphne's window, and held on for dear life. Once he made it to the top, he witnessed an empty room. "Nobody's in there!" Shaggy yelled down to Fred.

"Shhh, a little quieter there, Shaggy," Fred whispered up to him. "We don't want to get caught,"

"Okay, Okay," He gazed into the room, waiting for something to happen. Finally, Velma emerged from the attached bathroom with a worried look plastered on her face. "Velma has entered the building!"

"What about Daphne?" Fred became impatient, he urgently needed to ascertain Daphne's problem.

"Nope, like, I think she's in the bathroom," Shaggy continued to stare through the window and at Velma.

"Velma! Come in here!" Shaggy heard Daphne call while Velma rushed into the bathroom. "Fred? Do you know of a way to get to the bathroom?"

"I don't know, but if we can get inside her house I bet there'd be some way to find out what's happening," Fred elucidated. "Shaggy, open the window and get inside, then report back to me once you get some answers,"

"You're the boss, Freddy," Shaggy attempted to unlock the window, and on the third try, he succeeded. He scrambled through the window and onto the plush carpet of Daphne's bedroom. It was not familiar to Shaggy, for he had never been in said bedroom. He stood still, inhaled deeply, and examined the location he seemed to be in. He crept over to the bathroom door, and pushed his ear up against it.

"Velma?" Daphne sniffled from inside pink-themed bathroom. "What does a plus mean?" Shaggy heard Velma knocking objects off the counter to locate a certain package. Once sited, Velma scrutinized the labeling of the white package with blue words.

"Daph?" Velma bit her lower lip. "Why don't you see for yourself," She held the box right in front of Daphne's face so she could easily read it. Velma observed that Daphne's appearance instantly drained of color. Then she slowly dropped the package and sat down on the closed porcelain toilet. Of course, Shaggy did not have the slightest clue as to what was going on, so he roamed back to the window Fred was hanging out of. He looked out the window until he found Fred.

"I have no idea what they're talking about, Freddy," Shaggy elaborated. Fred shook his head in despair, and continued the conversation. Although, if Shaggy had indeed stayed at his position pushed up against the door, he would have figured out what Daphne's secret was.

"I hate to say it, Daphne," Velma gulped; she could not believe she was saying this. "But, you kind of had it coming," She bit her tongue after realizing what she had actually said, though.

"That may be true, Velma," Daphne swallowed the lump that had gathered in her throat. "But no sixteen year old girl realizes that she could end up pregnant," Daphne felt a warm tear roll down her cheek. "Like me,"

"Come on, let's get out of this bathroom," Velma smiled, clearly trying to cheer Daphne up. Daphne lifted her head and trudged after Velma. When Shaggy realized that the two girls were emerging from the walls of the bathroom, he rapidly did the only thing he could think of; he hid under the bed. "How do you feel?"

"The best I could feel after such a traumatizing experience," Daphne lay down on her bed and started to softly bawl. Velma looked down on her friend, wondering what she could do at such a point. She scooted over to Daphne and whispered calming thoughts into her ear. Shaggy took this moment to scurry out of Daphne's room and jump onto the rose trellis. Unfortunately for him and Fred, right at the moment that Shaggy fell onto the fragile trellis, it broke into several pieces, pushing Fred and Shaggy to the grassy floor below.

"SHAG-GY!" Fred's face appeared red with anger. This was his chance to figure out the secret.

"Like, shut up, Fred," Shaggy murmured; his head pounding from the fall.

"No, you shut up, Nor-ville!" Fred smirked; he thought he had the best comeback to call Shaggy by his real name.

"You shut up, Fred-erick!" Two could play at that game. Fred searched his mind for an even better retort, but instead of continuing the petty brawl; he observed Daphne and Velma walking down the stairs.

"Shaggy! Look!" He pointed at the two figures descending the stairs. The two men watched Daphne and Velma sit down on the couch and start to gossip.

"I'm sorry I took out of you and Shaggy's 'alone time' at the mystery today," Daphne apologized.

"What do you mean?" Velma blushed.

"Come on, Velms, I know you like him," Daphne grinned, which looked quite odd giving the fact that tears still streamed down her face.

"I do not!" Velma screeched. "And even if I did, I would prefer it if you would not make my infatuation public," Daphne nodded. That was as much of a confession as Daphne needed. Outside of the house, Shaggy sat there, eyes bugged out, dumbfounded. After all, he had had a crush on Velma for a long time, and he was very pleased that Velma had basically professed her love for him.

"Did you hear that, Fred?" Shaggy squealed. "She likes me!" Fred looked at his friend and then chuckled at his childishness.

"Yeah, I heard, congrats, man," Fred patted Shaggy on the back.

"Maybe Daphne will admit she likes you, and we can go on double dates!" Shaggy seemed so genuine in his excitement that Fred laughed once again. What Shaggy did not know would not hurt him. A few more hours passed by, but nothing more of Daphne's issue was discussed: Most likely to take her mind off of it. The night was so long-drawn that both Shaggy and Fred had fallen asleep on Daphne's lawn. It was One-o-clock in the morning, and all of Mystery Inc. was fast asleep.