Have a holly, jolly Christmas
Disclaimer/Author's Notes: All Scooby-Doo characters are property of Hanna-Barbera/Warner Bros. All other characters are part of the author's vivid imagination and (he, however, is not responsible for all of their actions as he is barely responsible for himself much of the time….). This is a strictly not-for-profit, just-for-fun work.
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And now, without delay:
Chapter 10: Second contact-knockout call
- - -
"If that was for the cobbler, what do I get for the pie?" Jonathan asked as he and Mary Jane separated, and she whispered into his ear. Everyone else broke into riotous laughter as Jonathan stood there with a shocked look on his face and Mary Jane just smiled. "Velma, I'm going to be very busy for the next few days, making pies for Mary Jane," and Velma smacked his arm and Mary Jane smiled even bigger.
'The real surprises are coming in the morning,' thought Jonathan.
'The real surprises are coming in the morning,' thought Mary Jane.
'The real surprises are coming in the morning,' thought Fred.
'The real surprises are coming in the morning,' thought Velma.
'The real surprises are coming in the morning,' thought Shaggy.
'The real surprises are coming in the morning,' thought Daphne.
- - -
"Let's fire it up," Jonathan said, and he turned to Clark as Clark placed the note onto the scanning device and started the process to, he hoped, make history.
- - -
1 week passed with no response.
- - -
2 weeks passed with no response.
- - -
3 weeks passed with no response.
- - -
On day 28…
- - -
"Jonathan, what do you think?"
"Clark, we should get something. We have no idea how far they were able to take the research without Clarke."
A loud chime sounded, and the printer began.
Jonathan almost fell out of his chair. Clark wasn't so lucky; he tried to get up too fast from his chair, tripped, and fell face-first into the floor.
The first page completed, and a second began to print.
Jonathan grabbed the first page and began to read, his face crunched up in anticipation. He looked confused for a moment, and then broke into a big grin, followed by a belly laugh.
"Jonathan?"
Jonathan handed Clark the paper. He read it, and he joined Jonathan in the ear-busting laugh fest.
Velma came into the room, and looked at the two men doubled over in laughter and the printer printing, took the paper thrust towards her from Clark, and read out loud.
"'The portal you have dialed is not a working portal. Please hang up and dial again. If you need further assistance, contact your local Deity for assistance. This is an automated response. Message number BR-549.
"By the way, cute note you sent. Anybody over there have a brain?' and the bottom half of the note is a large smiley face. "What is this?" she asked, trying to keep her laughter inside.
"Jefferson's response to Chad's note that he sent.." Jonathan said in between laughs, and the two, now three, of them laughed until the printer finished printing the remaining 9 pages, and then they contacted the team and began their review of the 10-page transmission and its contents.
- - -
"It's nice to know that great minds think alike," Velma said as the team, now gathered for the 5th consecutive day of review and analysis of the initial transmission and subsequent exchanges of information after 3 weeks of fine-tuning the information transmission link. They now had a permanent link that required 1/100th of the energy of the initial transmission, and the analysis projected that the energy requirement would continue to drop as both sides continued to fine-tune the process.
"The idea of a verbal connection looks very doable in the next 2-3 weeks, given the research that the Jefferson team has been conducting. Our analysis was behind theirs; however, their analysis for actual travel between Jefferson and Washington, given their input, puts us at approximately 2 years rather than the 10 years that they estimate," stated Clark.
"You're correct, Clark, but you'll need to remember to factor into account that Jefferson years are shorter than Washington years," Velma added, paused, then asked "how long do you think that we will be able to sustain the verbal connection link?"
"It looks like the first link should last for 2-3 hours, but after we've validated the results, we should see reductions in energy consumption similar to the information transmission link," Jonathan said, and smiled. "What's going in that mind of yours, Velma: planning an cross-dimensional X-rated call?"
"No, dear husband, I get enough of that at home," she replied matter-of-factly and watched the team laugh. They were far too familiar with Velma's and Jonathan's verbal sparring over the past years and were accustomed to it. "I was thinking of making a call to someone once we were operational," she said quietly.
"Daphne?"
"Yes, Daphne, if she's still alive. I don't know what happened to them after I was sent over here."
"Well, lucky for you that you have a husband who looks out for his wonderful bride," Jonathan smiled, and waved a sheet of paper at her. "One of the transmissions that you haven't seen is about her and Fred getting married, and another has their contact information. Daphne's a mom, now, by the way: twins, I believe."
"Jonathan!" She wadded up a page from her report and threw it at him. "When were you going to tell me: sometime next year? You're sleeping on the couch tonight," she yelled as the team all backed up against the walls behind them: some of them had learned (the hard way) that an angry and irate Velma was not to be trifled with.
"I'm sorry, dear, but it was going to be a surprise," Jonathan tried to dig himself out of the hole he'd jumped into. "I was going to set up the call and have you come in as we made the connection," he continued, and then realized that she was –
'Gotcha, Jonathan. I already knew about the transmissions," she said as she came around the table and poked him in the side with a wooden pointer that she'd picked up coming around the table.
"How about a three-way?" Jonathan asked.
"Jon! Please! Not in front of the team!" Velma replied, shocked, and the team burst out laughing when the words sank in. She leaned over and stage-whispered into his ear, "We'll talk later, big boy."
"I meant a three-way call, oh evil-minded wife of mine," Jonathan was deeper in the hole now, and the team was not helping by laughing and exchanging high-fives with Velma.
- - -
"…And that's how you got the call, Daphne," Velma continued, "we had the Jefferson team establish a three-way call to your house; they heard something hit the floor and one of the kids yell 'MOMMY!' but couldn't do anything since they weren't there at the time; the team that was supposed to be there when you got the call had been delayed in traffic, of all things to happen, and arrived at your house, it appeared, approximately 3-4 minutes after you fainted. Someone had left the house and gone next door to call Fred when the Jefferson team pulled up at the house. Dr. Alicia Montoya, one of the Jefferson field team members, found you unconscious on the floor. She then contacted the emergency line and aborted the ambulance, and told you what had happened and was happening and checked you out after you woke up on the floor.
"So, when Dr. Montoya finally explained to you who she was and that it was really me on the phone…"
- - -
"'Velma?'
"'That's right, oh lavender queen.'
"'VELMA! It is you! I haven't been called that…' Daphne's voice trailed, and her eyes flooded with tears of sadness and happiness.
"'What? So, you thought I was dead, huh? Jinkes, Daphne, couldn't y'all have a little faith in your best friend?' I was joking and crying, myself, and Jonathan was holding my shoulders to steady me.
"'Y'all?'
"'Too much time out of the Midwest, Daphne; I'm a Texan, now, and proud of it.'
"'Where the heck are you, Velma? That doctor said something about another plane –'
"'Long story, Daphne: have Dr. Montoya explain it. What happened is stranger that Spooky Island ever dreamed of being times 50; the difference is, this time, I got a clue upon arrival and got the guy from the beginning.'
"'Velma? You sound so happy.' She stopped and mentally processed what she'd heard. 'Wait: you got the guy?'
"'Daphne, remember what you told me when you found me ready to join Ethan? "there is someone looking for you that will love you," you said, "not the same way, but in a new and exciting way that you've never dreamed of." Remember, Daphne?'
"'Yes, you scared me to death that day, Velma, and of course I remember that.'
"'That would be me, Daphne Blake-Jones,' and the rich baritone voice came over the phone. "Jonathan Christopher Davis at your service, Ms. Blake-Jones. I have the extreme honor of being married to your friend,' Jonathan spoke for the first time to the second person that he'd seen on cartoons when he was younger, and Daphne squealed with glee.
"'Velma: leave it to you to get blown up and find a man!'
"'Jinkies, Daphne, I deserve something for messing up my hair and losing my glasses,' Velma replied, and she and Daphne laughed.
"'What about you, Daphne? Velma continued after catching her breath. 'Twins?'
"'Two sets of them, Velma," Daphne said proudly.
"Two?'
"Four kids, Velma
"'And Fred is insufferably proud of himself, isn't he?'
"'You know men, Velma, so you know he is still strutting,' Daphne replied, chortling.
"'Daphne, I need for you to do things for me.'
"'Sure, Velma, anything.'
'"Go to Ethan's grave, and place a calla lily on it for me.'
"'Oh, Velma, now you've done it,' and Daphne's tears that were drying came back.
"'That was the easy one, Daphne.'
"'Oh! My! Goodness!' Daphne whispered, and she knew what the second request would be.
"'Tell my parents… I'm still alive…,' Velma choked back the tears while she barely got the words out, 'and that I love them very much,' Velma then broke down and handed the phone to Jonathan. He took the phone in one hand and held her with the other.
"'Daphne, are you still there?'
"'Yes, Jonathan.'
"'You'd better get back to those kids. Dr. Montoya can explain everything to you, including the need for security at this time. Velma loves you, and I have loved you for several years, ever since the first time I saw you. Dr. Montoya will explain that, as well,' as Daphne's mouth wanted to ask How but couldn't get the words out. 'Goodbye, Daphne. This will be the continuance of a beautiful friendship between you and Velma, and I hope to become your friend, as well,' and the line went dead, leaving two friends on opposite sides of the bridge smiling through their tears.
"'Honey, what's going on?' Fred asked as he walked into his house, having walked past several armed guards, and finding his wife sitting tailor-style on the floor smiling and crying and holding the phone and being braced by a woman in a doctor's coat.
"'Fred, you'll never guess who just called,' Daphne grinned form ear to ear."
- - -
"'And that's why the angel's on top of the Christmas tree,'" Fred said, and was instantly covered with coffee as Mary Jane and Daphne and Velma all threw the contents of their cups on him.
"What?" he said, trying unsuccessfully to look innocent, and Shaggy and Jonathan laughed and tossed him napkins to dry off. 'Oh, no, my ascot's ruined!" Fred cried out in horror, and everyone else in the room laughed as he unclipped it, walked over to the fireplace, bowed reverently, and tossed it into the fire. It sat on top of a log until it dried, then finally began to burn.
"Good thing I've got a spare," he remarked as he reached into his pants pocket, retrieved another ascot, and clipped it on. "There," he said with satisfaction, and dodged left as Daphne missed with more coffee.
"Daphne, what's in the rest of the huge boxes?" Jonathan asked. "More clothes?" he quipped.
"As a matter of fact, no. It's Christmas presents for everybody, so Fred, we'd better get busy," she stood and walked over to the first large box, ripping it apart with one motion.
"Note to Jonathan: never get Daphne mad at you, especially if you're a box: you could lose your life," Jonathan scribbled into the air.
"Karate comes in handy, but not for opening boxes," she said as she ripped the tops and one side off of the remainder of the boxes. "Expert shopping and package receipt skill honed with years of purchases," and she finished off the last box with a flourish.
"I'll unpack my presents," Mary Jane said, heading over to her box..
"You ready for those other boxes, Shaggy?" Jonathan asked and answered as he and Shaggy stood and headed back thru the kitchen to retrieve the remainder of the packages.
Velma was left sitting and watching Daphne and Fred move as one, and she marveled at how well they fit together as a couple. She watched Mary Jane unpack the box and move gracefully around the couple as all three danced an unscripted ballet choreographed by years together around the Christmas tree, placing Christmas presents for friends and family alike. She smiled and sipped the last of her coffee, what little remained after they had initiated the multi-cup attack on Fred.
Shaggy and Jonathan returned a few minutes later with a cart filled with wrapped presents; Shaggy joined in the dance, and Jonathan came over and sat with his wife, holding her as they watched. She shed tears for friends that she had never thought she'd see again, family that she never thought she'd have, and love that she never thought she' have again for another but now had for the man holding her.
She looked up thru her tears and smiled as Jonathan had tears of happiness rolling down his face, as well.
- - -
"What's a fruitcake?" Shaggy asked as Jonathan rolled in the replacement cart from the now-deceased pies, holding more food.
"Well, when Velma makes it, it has a kick," Jonathan said as he handed out the plates and cutlery.
"Kick?" Mary Jane sniffed it, grinned, and took a big bite.
"Rum," Jonathan said, "lots and lots of rum. Do not drive after eating, or you'll be arrested for DUIF."
"Velma, I apologize," Fred said in between bites, "you can cook."
"Was that for the cake or the kiss, Freddie?" Velma replied with a sound in her voice that made Fred's head pop up from the food to see Velma giving him the 'come-hither' look. He almost dropped his plate, and Daphne laughed as he almost gave a fruitcake-spit-take.
"Told you, Fred," Jonathan replied, calmly, and leaned over and hugged Velma again as she laughed at Fred.
- - -
"Ok, Daphne, give." Velma was going for the jugular: all of the presents were out, and the Christmas tree looked like a small island in the middle of a sea of wrapping paper and bows 8 miles wide.
"What" Daphne tried unsuccessfully to look innocent.
"Spill, sister. Two sets of twins?"
"Yes, well, the first were sort of expected, and the second were a complete surprise."
"Didn't twins run in your family, Daphne?"
"On my dad's side; they seemed to come every 3-4 generations, so I sort of expected them, but Fred certainly wasn't ready for birth. Taking him to pre-birthing classes was an exercise in patience, especially after he fainted at the first birth film."
"Daphne!"
"Well, Fred, you did, but I still love you. At least you didn't faint at the actual birth like so many fathers do, or chicken out and stay out like most of the ones that don't faint."
"Well, I wasn't sure if I wanted to be there when you started describing me to the nurse," Fred said. "Jonathan, I know sailors that would have blushed in that room! She used words that, I'm glad to say, I've only heard a few times."
"Like for the birth of the second set of twins?" Shaggy asked.
"No, when he refused to get my triple-ripple fudge and marshmallow ice cream, spicy bison and snake jerky, and pickled artichokes one night during the third trimester of the second pregnancy," Daphne responded, and saw Velma and Mary Jane grimace. "Hey, I needed food."
"You were around Shaggy far too long," Velma noted, and Fred nodded concurrence.
"How long?"
"For the first, 17 hours. For the second, we almost didn't make it to the hospital. They wanted our fast, and labor was under an hour from the time my water broke until the first head came out."
"I imagine that both sets of grandparents are spoiling them rotten," Jonathan stated, and Fred nodded in agreement.
"My dad has taken them almost everywhere that I went and more, and my mom has baked more than she ever did in her life," Fred said, and Daphne chimed in.
"My dad's disgusting about his granddaughters, and Mom loves having grandsons to "train," as she puts it," and Daphne gushed with pride at how well her Mom and Dad had accepted Fred and the kids into their lives.
'Velma's too quiet,' Jonathan thought, and he turned just as she buried her head into his chest and heaved a huge sob.
"Parents," Jonathan said to Daphne, and everyone understood. Velma had been close to Harold and Marilyn Dinkley and must have missed them terribly.
"I'm sorry," Velma said after a few minutes and raising her head. "I haven't cried this much in years," she continued.
"Velma, did you not think that this would be an emotional night for everyone? That's why I went to Dave's Big Store and bought the 3 cases of tissues: I thought that 2 would do it, but I wanted some extras just in case, OOF!" Jonathan said as Velma looked up, grinned, kissed him on the cheek, and punched him in the stomach.
"My darling, have a tissue on me," Velma said sweetly as she stuffed a wad of them into his mouth. "Spares, just in case," and Shaggy and Fred sat there and grinned at him.
- - -
"Well," I said after moving the tissues from my mouth, soggy and sticky after Velma had poured the remainder of her coffee on them, "I'd better get this mess cleaned up, and y'all better head to bed. Tomorrow's going to be a long day."
"But, tonight's gonna be an even longer night," Daphne said as she nibbled on Fred's ear. Grin #1.
"I concur, Daphne," Mary Jane purred and did the same to Shaggy. Grin #2.
"Works for me," Velma concurred and kissed my ear. Grin #3.
Houston we're a 'go' for a full set.
"Guys, a little help with the kitchen, and we'll all be in bed in 15 minutes," I almost lost my ear trying to get up.
"They'd better, Jonathan, or it's gonna be a cold night for everyone," Mary Jane said, rising and heading for her luggage.
Velma pulled a luggage hand truck from the closet, and she and Daphne loaded up her Daphne's luggage. "I'm showing our guests their bedrooms and the bathrooms, Jonathan. Y'all don't be too long," Velma continued as the three ladies headed down the hall, Mary Jane pulling her suitcase and Velma pulling the last one that wouldn't fit on the hand truck that Daphne was pushing..
"Gentlemen, we have our orders," Fred said as he pushed two carts into the kitchen.
"And we will follow them gladly," Shaggy said pushing the remaining carts.
"Guys, the plates and silverware go into the dishwasher nearest the sink. I'm going to check the stews and load the turkeys and hams into the ovens," they had the carts, so I decided to continue the Christmas dinner prep, checking the fire and adding a medium-sized log to the blaze before heading to the kitchen.
Velma stopped by on the way to our suite, made some comment about 'good help being hard to find,' and kept going after giving us the 5-minute warning and saying that 'green was indeed good, and sheer black with lavender trim was exquisite.' The guys were heading out of the kitchen in under 90 seconds, and I was out less than 1 minute after them. I liked orange, personally. With wives like these, you did not keep them waiting.
Scooby woke up, looked around, saw that all of the people had left, went to the window, visibly shivered, and reclaimed his place in front of the fireplace, rolling over to re-toast the original side.
chapter now complete….
- - -
A/N afterward:
We've put out the presents, cleaned the living room and kitchen, and are heading to bed now. The night's just getting started! Christmas morning is coming, but the night remains, and we all know how ling Christmas Eve night can last. There's still more to happen tonight and tomorrow, so please drop back by again. No more food tonight (unless you consider Alka-Seltzer…).
In the meantime, we're playing the newest game craze to hit the planes:
Name!
That!
Secret!
Jonathan's secret is ?
Mary Jane's secret is ?
Fred's secret is ?
Velma's secret is ?
Shaggy's secret is ?
Daphne's secret is ?
If you get 5 of the 6 secrets, I'll use the name of your choice for a character appearing in a later chapter (T and below-rated names, only, please: there are children present.).
If you don't play, at least read and review. Thank you.