A.N. I knew I had a lot I wanted to cover but whew was this just becoming it's own beast! I've decided to present it in two parts because it was just TOO long (even for me) But fear not, Part Two is ready and waiting as soon as you get to the end of this one. See you on the flip side!

Fred Jones sat alone in the airport, lost in his own thoughts. The flight had been delayed once again and he shook his head in annoyance.

"You on the 162 too?" a voice suddenly said from nowhere, startling Fred.

A woman in her mid to late twenties with olive skin and curly dark hair with a huge beaming smile was staring back at him.

"Oh, uh yeh, annoying isn't it."

"I guess," she said in a really easy-going manner. "I'm not really in any hurry to get where I'm going, I'll get there when I can!"

Fred smiled politely, secretly bemoaning the fact that of all the lonely looking guys in the airport lounge, she had decided to approach him.

"Mind if I sit here?" she indicated the seat next to him with a soft tilt of her head, and Fred was going to tell her that yes, he very much did mind but didn't have the heart to, she seemed friendly and harmless enough.

"Go for it," he said and he watched as she smoothly sat herself down, she really was very easy on the eye.

"I'm Natalie," she smiled flirtatiously.

"Fred," he offered back with a smile of his own.

"Fred," she said looking him over with an unmistakable appraising eye. "Fred, do I know you? There's something awfully familiar about your face?"

Fred automatically tensed, he had hoped that his face had been forgotten by now and people would no longer be interested in him and certainly not here. "Uh, no? I don't think so. Maybe I just have one of those faces?" he suggested with a little pout and Natalie laughed.

"You sure do have one of those faces," she said seductively, studying him further and causing him to squirm in embarrassment. She suddenly snapped her fingers in recognition. "I got it. You're from Coolsville aren't you. One of those kids that were involved with all that crazy drama!"

"Um, that's one way of putting it," Fred said dismissively, not trying to be polite anymore as he battled to conjure up an excuse to get away from the flirtatious female. "Oh shoot, I just remembered I really need to get myself a travel pillow! Can't cope without one," he said, shooting her an apologetic smile as he tried to get up, but was irritated as she ignored his clear desire to leave and instead, reached forward to stop him.

"I mean oh my god, the whole thing, it must have been so scary!" she said batting her eyelashes at him and suddenly clutching his arm. He stared at her uncomfortably now, his annoyance now turning to suspicion by her sudden 'recognising of him' and desire to dredge up that moment. As he studied her open and expressive face, he realised that actually he recognised her. He mentally groaned at the intrusion, was absolutely nowhere sacred? He knew he still had a little time so decided to play along with her game for his own amusement.

"Oh my god Natalie," he suddenly mimicked her over the top machinations. "Like it was so scary! I've actually been dying to speak to someone about it for such a long time!" he said outlandishly, turning his whole body towards her, his own eyes suddenly bright and interested.

"Really?" Natalie raised an eyebrow in surprise at how open Fred suddenly was being, but there was a shift in her body language too. She coyly uncrossed her long legs and turned further towards Fred so their knees were virtually touching now.

"In fact," Fred said in a husky whisper and leaned in closer to Natalie. "Why don't you come a little closer so I can tell you the REAL story?" He placed a hand on her bare knee with a grin as he leaned in close enough to smell her perfume, kiss her. Close enough for his breath to tickle her throat as his mouth leaned into her.

At the very last second when perhaps even she was anticipating a kiss, he pulled away; triumphantly holding the wire he had spotted to confirm her identity, and had just yanked from underneath her shirt, causing her to gasp in outrage.

"Nice try 'Natalie'" he mocked her with a wicked grin, and she recovered quickly from his shocking action to scowl at him as she hastily re-buttoned the shirt, he had popped open. "You really thought that would work?"

'Natalie' pulled the dark wig from her head, fully exposing the persistent blond reporter who had first tailed Fred and the others in Coolsville. "I should have known you weren't really alone," she replied scornfully, embarrassed at how quickly he had just rumbled her.

"You just don't give up do you, Talia?"

"What can I say Fred, our viewers have something of an obsession with you guys ever since the truth came out about what really happened with Devon Blake that night."

"Your viewers have an obsession or you have an obsession, Talia?" He challenged her with a smirk.

"Oh, come on Fred," she purred. "You, your friends, you're still hot property despite your little moonlight flit! Care to give me an exclusive? I've come a long way," she suggested hopefully.

"You're unbelievable! How did you even find me?" Fred exclaimed angrily as he tossed the now snapped wire and mini recorder back at her feet. He jumped to his feet but then he saw something behind Talia's head and his annoyance disappeared in an instant and he grinned. "Actually Talia, I can give you an exclusive story if you're interested. Off the record."

Talia certainly was interested but was unnerved by how the blond's interest was so firmly focused at something past her head now. She turned around to see what had captured his attention. When she saw, she rolled her eyes hard. "Oh look! It's your famous team! I guess the rumours were true after all and that you really did come all the way to Hawaii to solve a mystery?"

"Actually, no," Fred's smile broadened as Ethan, Shaggy, Velma, Scooby and Daphne had almost reached them now. "That wasn't why we were here at all."

Daphne was glowing radiantly as she glided into Fred's welcoming arms and he greeted her with a soft kiss right in front of an annoyed looking Talia.

"Hey babe, I missed you."

"Missed you too."

"Oh, it's your girlfriend Daphne Blake, how lovely!" Talia said sarcastically and the couple smiled knowingly at her as Daphne threw her arms around Fred's neck. The pair of them were so glowing now it was sickening for Talia, it didn't escape her attention that all of their friends had stupid grins plastered on their faces too.

"Well actually," Fred said with a little wink. "She's not my girlfriend."

For a second Talia looked confused, before Daphne unwound herself from Fred's neck, and she finally clocked 'it'; the same matching giveaway she had completely missed as she had flirted with Fred. Call yourself a reporter! Talia admonished herself as the puzzle pieces slid into place. Despite her fun little cat and mouse game with them, Talia did actually like them, they had helped to save the town after all, and she squealed in girlish excitement now, finally realising what the whole gang were doing here.

"I'd like to be the first to introduce you to my beautiful new wife," Fred grinned as Daphne giggled before he captured her lips with a loving kiss again. He never ever wanted to let her go.

Almost an entire year earlier (Late October 2012)

Fred had half expected that Ethan wouldn't let him out but true to his word, he released the locks after an intense twenty-five minutes. Fred stumbled out of the car, feeling completely unsure of himself, those twenty-five minutes were intense but they had definitely hit hard. If Ethan thought he was going to rush straight home to Daphne and sweep in with a romantic gesture, well he was sadly mistaken however.

With the sun shining high overhead, he began to walk; he had no clear idea where he was going but he found himself walking through town, and marveled at what he saw. Just one week earlier this same high street was desolate and decaying. Nearly every shop window had been boarded up and those that hadn't had been mercilessly looted. Litter blew carelessly down the street, with wardens having long given up on those little jobs. What had been the point? There had been no pride in the town anymore. It had been a town of chaos and fear, it didn't belong to the citizens of Coolsville, it had been hijacked by something much darker. Rubbish had overflowed in the street, and most vehicles were gone or had been left abandoned, but the most unnerving thing of Coolsville under Devon's forces was the silence. It had been so unerring and unnatural.

Today though was like looking at its past glories. Shopkeepers were out helping each other to sweep up the glass that littered their premises, and teams of volunteers were going up and down the street with litter pickers and garbage bags intent on cleaning up the once proud high street. The first few businesses were tentatively placing 'open' signs in their shop doors as the strive for normality began.

The recovery had been commented on in the news articles but it was the first time Fred saw it in action, and despite the turmoil of his own life right now, he couldn't help but smile widely. Amongst the physical signs of recovery, one thing brought Fred the most joy and it was the sounds. Conversations were taking place up and down the street as everyone pitched in to help, and as he walked a little further towards the park area now, an even more melodious sound met his ears; laughter. children.

While most of the park equipment still needed a repair job; the swings had been quickly unchained and all were full of children squealing happily as mums and dads pushed them in the sunshine. He stood watching the serenity with the goofiest smile on his face now, and he forced himself to keep moving in case someone got the wrong impression of a man alone just gawping at kids in the park.

He turned away quickly, too quickly, too late to avoid the small boy on the bike who shot out of nowhere, smashing into his shins hard. "Archie!" came the exasperated shout of the mother, hurrying to catch up to her son. "I told you to look where you were going!"

Luckily, Fred had kept his dignity and managed to stay on his feet, and the boy had mercifully remained on the bike. Fred's shins smarted like hell but he didn't let it show. The boy looked sorrowfully at the ground, not wanting to make eye contact with the man he had crashed into.

"Gee, I'm sorry mister."

He looked so pitiful and apologetic with his eyes glued to the ground that Fred almost burst out laughing. Instead, he smiled and bent down to the child's height.

"Hey, it's OK," he grinned. "I was the one who wasn't looking where they were going... despite what your mom said," he winked, causing the boy to look up now with a timid smile of his own. The boy's smile suddenly lit up his whole face when he realised who he had crashed into.

"Hey! You came back! I knew you and Daphne would!" Archie said happily. His mom had almost reached them now and Fred looked at the kid in surprise. Archie looked around at his friends playing freely again in the park and then back to Fred. He leaned in close to whisper in Fred's ear. "It was you, wasn't it? Mystery Inc. saved Coolsville just like I knew you would!"

Fred smiled mysteriously at the astute little boy and ruffled his hair as his mom rushed over full of apologies for her boisterous son mowing into the young guy.

"Oh my god, are you alright? I told Archie to be careful on that thing but he just got a new bike and he couldn't wait to get back to the park, and you know how kids are..." she trailed off, when like her son, she recognised the leader of Mystery Incorporated looking a little battered and bruised. She knew Archie's reckless pile into him hadn't done that.

"See, look mom! I knew it was them! I knew they would come back!"

Archie's mom continued to stare in amazement at Fred who didn't say a word in reply. He knew he needed to go, and turned away quickly before she could see the tears in his eyes.

"Thank you," she shouted after him. They both knew why she was thanking him and it had nothing to do with him being 'cool' about being hit with her son's bike.

Barely able to see from the wave of grief and panic that suddenly engulfed him, Fred walked on until he was alone again before fully breaking down. They had done this; they had helped save the entire town. In all their years as Mystery Incorporated here, they had helped save businesses, solved robberies and many strange and ghostly goings-on but that was always supporting individuals. This was for the whole town. And though it was never their end game that Devon would end up dead, they had returned to Coolsville with only one intention; stopping him. They had actually succeeded, and not for one single second had they allowed themselves to bask in that success, he realised suddenly. It was like Ethan had said, they were allowed to be happy about it! They were allowed to raise a toast and be grateful that this menace that had haunted all of their lives for so long, was dead.

Alone in the still abandoned grounds near the high school where he had ended up, he abruptly let out the loudest scream. It was a culmination of everything that had hit him in the last few weeks – discovering and dealing with Ethan's betrayal after he had already grieved him, the tension with Shaggy and Velma as the split took its toll, the agony and ecstasy of the whole Madelyn ordeal, the absolutely bat-shit crazy way they had captured him. HIS DEATH. Daphne's earth-shattering confession.

He screamed until his throat felt hoarse, until his lungs would give no more and then he collapsed to the ground, absolutely spent but contented. He needed that. He knew where he needed to go now, and he hauled himself up off the grass. His mind felt clearer now but Ethan's words were still ringing in his ears.

If Fred thought that Ethan was going to hit him with a lecture he was immediately taken by surprise when Ethan smiled softly and hit him with the nostalgia instead. Confident that Fred wasn't going to launch over the seat to immediately reset the locks, Ethan leaned back a little in his seat, and turned to a still simmering Fred.

"You know, I hated you from the moment I met you," he recalled their first meeting in the warehouse with a rueful smile. "I fucking hated you!"

"I have that effect on people sometimes," Fred chuckled, already beginning to calm down a little now. "Were you jealous of my boyish good looks?"

Ethan laughed loudly in return. He had made a promise to himself that he was never going to tell Fred that yes, he most certainly had found him attractive; he wasn't about to break it now but even from that first meeting, he had known he was firmly off-limits anyway. "No, but I was jealous of what you had with Daph. Even then I knew. I saw the way she was looking at you as she begged me to trust you and despite what I said to you, I knew you were absolutely sincere when you told me you were going to make amends. I knew in that moment what you felt for her, even if you didn't yet. On the one hand I was hearing how this criminal had ruthlessly targeted my sister and I think if I had only been told about you third hand; I'd have been plotting your death. But I met you. I saw your sincerity. Your huge heart. Your obvious regret for the terrible thing you had done. And I knew then despite my visible misgivings, that you would do absolutely anything in your power to protect her, to help her and ultimately; to atone."

"Why are you telling me this Ethan?" Fred squirmed uncomfortably in his seat.

"Because right now you need to hear this. I mean fuck, Fred, you saved my life! That's the kind of man you are. Not what Devon said you are! I was a complete stranger in reality, and you risked everything to save me. From what the gang later told me about your investigation, you were determined to save me even when all hope seemed lost."

"Anyone would have done the same," Fred said, staring out of the passenger window resolutely now.

"Nope, no. Not just anyone. You. Only someone with your heart Fred. Only someone who cares. It's why you make such a great leader," Ethan told him warmly. "While everyone else was scratching their heads in that theatre you were the one bravely coming up with a plan. You ALWAYS come up with the plan!"

"Please just make your point Ethan," Fred said tiredly. "I don't really see how this is relevant to the current situation with Daphne."

"It has everything to do with Daphne! It all comes back to Daphne!" Ethan said, his eyes shining. "Ask yourself, why were you so determined to find and save a complete stranger. Why, when anyone else would have given up long before, you made it your mission to drag me out of the compound that night? For one, it shows the absolute lion-heart tenacity you possess, but there was something else you can admit to yourself, go on!"

"Because I knew how much you meant to her," Fred replied quietly, examining the cuts on his wrists again now. "I saved you, went through literal hell; for her."

"Exactly," Ethan smiled. "It's why you have been by her side ever since. Fred, Devon was so wrong when he said that the two of you are cursed. It's actually the absolute opposite and he fucking knew it too. You two, far from cursed, are meant to be. I knew it, he knew it – its why he kidnapped you. It's why it was your life he bargained with her over, not mine. It's love. It's what he resented most in the world because he didn't have it himself. The woman he loved, loved another. Whether that man was his brother or a work colleague he would have gone after him in the same malicious way because Devon was damaged by love, scorned by it. He couldn't stand to see anyone happy. Even in what he knew were his final moments, he was taunting you, desperately trying to drive you and Daphne apart. You two making it after all will be the single greatest triumph. Please think carefully about what you want to do next but before you go, please give me another five minutes. I'm sorry I won't preach at you any longer I just want to tell you a story."

Fred was desperately trying to hold it together in front of Ethan as his passionate speech seeped into his very bones. He could only nod pathetically as his entire body tingled now.

"My story is not like yours. Despite all the progress made in society now, growing up as a gay man has remained challenging. Even becoming friends with other men is problematic because as soon as they realise I'm gay, they just think I just want to jump their bones," he laughed softly before continuing. "At high school I kissed girls like everyone else did, but I knew I didn't feel the same, I just wanted to fit in. The only 'out' boy in my year was teased mercilessly. I'm ashamed to say I even joined in, but high school is rough, I wanted to be accepted so I went through the only acceptable charade. I dated the same girl for a while and I truly adored her as a friend but I never felt anything more for her, so I broke it off, before I could hurt her. It was Daphne that figured it out. I was a good-looking guy and had girls queuing up who wanted to date me, but I always shook off that I was too hooked on my studies to care about girls."

"She saw right through you?"

"She flat out asked me if I was gay. I was still struggling to accept it myself so of course I denied it. I was terrified of what Devon's reaction would be too. I snuck around with guys much older than me, finding them dangerous and intoxicating. She finally caught me out. Surprisingly, Devon didn't care all that much; sure, he mocked me with hateful insults but he wasn't bothered. Overnight, Daphne tried to become my little 'wingwoman', setting me up on disastrous date after disastrous date with guys she knew."

"Ha," Fred laughed warmly. "That sure sounds like her meddling alright!"

"After I left school, I dated a couple of guys and we had fun, but there was never anything serious. I thought I was still young and had plenty of time yet before I needed to settle down. But when Devon kidnapped and tortured me, and I feared I was going to die, only one strange little thought came to me - I was going to die and I had never been in love. Pathetic right?"

"I don't think that's pathetic at all," Fred said quietly, feeling so moved by Ethan's confession.

Ethan nodded at him before continuing. "When I left Coolsville for China, I had got over myself; I was on an important mission, love could certainly wait. But, as I'm sure you can attest Fred, love finds us at the strangest times and right in the midst of getting ready to take down Devon, I met someone. Someone special, who I knew I wanted to spend all my time with. We only ever got to go on a couple of dates, but they were magical Fred. We just talked and talked and when we finally kissed..." Ethan closed his eyes and smiled, and Fred knew he was thinking of this man. "Tao was special. So fucking special. But then Devon pressed 'destruct' in such a devastating way and I had no choice. To protect him, I had to leave him, the only man I ever properly cared about as I finally began to understand what love really is. To him, I just disappeared. We never even said goodbye."

"Ethan, I'm sorry I had no idea," Fred said, feeling emotional about Ethan's lost love but to his surprise, Ethan leaned across and simply unlocked the doors now.

"Please Fred, all I can say now is just think about what I said. Think about what you and Daphne have, it's so fucking special and I know you can come through this new setback but this is on you now, I won't tell you what to do, you have to decide that for yourself, but I will say one final thing. Don't let Devon destroy another relationship."

And then Fred had climbed out of the car and gone on his zombie walk through town. He saw everything they had achieved, everything they had put right, and he was seized with a new determination to put the most important thing in his life right now, before it was too late.

Outside Fred and Daphne's apartment, 40 minutes earlier.

"Velma! Velma! Can we have a quick word!"

Velma scowled as she clocked Talia Roberts, Coolsville's most annoying roving reporter, lying in wait as soon as she left Fred and Daphne's apartment. Despite their direct involvement at the Docks being hidden, the hacks weren't fooled and knew that it was no coincidence that the AWOL gang had suddenly showed up again just as Devon's demise went down. Talia and her news crew had tried to ambush the members whenever they could, including an ill-fated and crass attempt just after the memorial. They were clearly not going to give up.

"Sure! I have two for you," Velma yelled across the road. " ." She took off in a sprint in the opposite direction, cursing her lack of fitness once again. She could hear them pursuing her, the camera equipment clanging along the floor before they obviously thought better of it and got in the van to chase her instead.

Fucking great! She knew she had no hope of outrunning them now and dived into the next alley, running directly through it and then doubled back on herself, hoping they would not have been able to follow. She crouched behind the dumpster, slowly peering from behind it, when she felt a hand on her shoulder and shot up screaming before the same hand went to her mouth.

"Shhh, you don't want them to hear us do you!" She recognised the voice immediately and as if to confirm her suspicions, Scooby soon rolled into view too. Shaggy let go.

"Shaggy," she hissed, instantly annoyed at seeing him again. "What the fuck are you doing here?"

"What else? Hiding from the vultures," he said dismissively. "If you're interested, Scoob and I know a shortcut. Or you could take your chances...out there," he shrugged.

Velma groaned, now she knew exactly what was meant by the phrase 'being caught between a rock and a hard place'. She didn't take a second to think about what the least bad option was. "Lead the way," she grumbled.

Ten minutes later, and after some epic backstreet dodging and they were once again awkwardly ensconced in Shaggy's apartment. Velma hovered by the window after they had come in via the fire escape, and was relieved to see no further sign of the intrusive news van.

"I think we're safe here," Shaggy explained. "They either don't know or care that I live here, or they're not interested in venturing into the bad side of town," he said with a little chuckle.

Velma shut the curtain with a sigh and plopped into the chair. They had given each other the silent treatment for the last couple of days but she knew she needed to break cover as it was tearing her apart.

"Shaggy, I owe you an explanation for what happened," she started but he interrupted.

"No Vel, I need to apologise too. I massively over-reacted, we were both emotionally het up after what had happened, I never should have reacted like that."

"Shaggy, don't. We both know it was more than just that. It was me shutting down on you AGAIN even after I bared my soul to you. Like you said, I need to sort my shit out and stop leading you on."

"I don't think that at all Velma, after everything that's happened, I shouldn't have pushed things when I'm more than happy to wait for you, as long as it takes. I shouldn't have pressured you."

Velma looked at him as he said all this earnestly and burst into tears of frustration. "You didn't pressure me at all! I initiated it! I kissed you! I wanted it so much Shaggy. I wanted you!"

"Look Vel, there really is no rush. We can take things as slow as you want."

"You're not listening Shaggy! I wanted it! I really fucking wanted it, but once again that little voice in my head stopped me and I fucking hate it! I don't even know why! You know my insecurity now; you know about Patrick and still I stopped you!"

"I don't care Velma. I don't care that you keep pushing me away. I just want to be with you. After everything's that's happened in the last few days, after that messed up shit we witnessed together on the Docks. I just want to hold you. Will you please sit with me? Talk to me?"

He patted the cushion next to him on the couch invitingly, and Velma swallowed and hesitated. They both knew where this could end up but he looked so adorable, his brown eyes pleading, that she simply couldn't resist. She silently padded over and he folded her into his arms and she almost sighed serenely. She had so missed this over the last few days. She missed him.

"There's my girl," Shaggy said softly just stroking her hair. "God, what are we going to do with you Velma Dinkley? You deserve to be happy too you know."

As Shaggy said that, something deep within Velma stirred. She was denying her own happiness and she didn't really know why. She knew she had to stop before she lost her chance at happiness for good. She sat up quickly. "Kiss me Shaggy." Shaggy looked at her sceptically. "Please, I won't stop you, I promise you, I think I finally worked it out."

Still hesitant, he kissed her gently on her soft lips and she kissed back. He was quite content with just this, but soon she was whipping her own top off, and his resolve weakened considerably as his own desire grew. He pulled her on top of him, nipping at her neck. "Are you sure?" he whispered.

"Positive," she whispered back. He needed no further invitation and was just removing his own shirt when they were both startled by a wide-eyed Scooby who had just trotted in from the yard.

"Rhaggy? Relma?"

Shaggy shot off the couch and tossed Velma his shirt, 'meet me in the bedroom,' he mouthed as he scrambled to Scooby. "Hey Scoob buddy! Let's go fix you some food!"

As soon as Shaggy said 'food', Scooby forgot about the unsettling position he had caught his friends in, and wagged his tail happily, as he followed Shaggy to the kitchen.

"Ro boy roh boy roh boy," he said gleefully, eyeing the super 'Shaggy' sandwich Shaggy whipped up in seconds and placed before him.

"Enjoy Scooby!" he yelled before hurrying to the bedroom and shutting the door firmly behind him. He feared the distraction would have given Velma ample opportunity to put the brakes on again but was excited when he saw her sitting on top of the covers, her skirt pushed up seductively flashing just the right amount of skin to get him hot under the collar.

He checked again to make sure the door was locked before shedding his trousers and joining her on the bed.

"Now, Mr. Rogers where were we?" she said in an unbearably sexy voice and Shaggy growled in response, covering her lips with another searing kiss. This time when Shaggy undressed her, Velma didn't stop him. Poor Scooby was left in his own company for quite some time.

When Fred returned to the apartment, there was thankfully no sign of Talia outside, he wasn't sure he could cope with her too. He opened the door, his heart hammering in his chest, not sure what reaction he was going to get. He had been gone for almost an hour. He tentatively pushed the door all the way open and physically braced himself, half expecting a shoe to come hurtling in his direction, and he knew he would have entirely deserved it. He sure had some amends to make. Daphne was sat curled up in a blanket on the couch, she had obviously been watching a film, or one of her shows because as soon as she saw him standing in the doorway, she grabbed the remote and switched the TV off.

"You came back," she said simply in greeting.

He wanted to run to her, he wanted to squeeze her and beg her forgiveness but instead he stood stock still in the doorway, only just remembering to swing the door closed behind him.

"Daphne, I'm so sorry! I just couldn't deal and needed some space and time to think, and I know that was selfish of me! You needed my support and I couldn't give it to you."

"You don't need to apologise, I get it Fred. It's why I never told you, I anticipated this anger, I'm damaged goods now."

Fred stared at Daphne incredulously, automatically moving into the living room now.

"Damaged goods? Is that what you think? You were afraid I wouldn't want you anymore?!"

"You know I'm spoilt now, tainted," she said, and Fred came and sat right next to her, he needed to show her how wrong she was.

"Sweetheart, I can't believe you would think that. I was devastated when you told me, heartbroken but I was never angry at you. How could I be? Everything that happened to you was because of that bastard and I'm fuming Daph. I'm fuming that he has been allowed to get away with it, furious he left you with that uncertainty, but mostly I'm angry at myself."

"Why?"

"Because I failed you. I failed to keep you safe. You told me about the drunken pass he had made at you at the party and I just dismissed it as being yet another guy trying his luck! He wasn't the first, you had turned heads across Europe. I just thought he was yet another admirer to be jealous of. I didn't know he was dangerous."

"Exactly Freddy, nobody could have known, he was very charming, no one could have known what a level of darkness he hid. I know you love to beat yourself up Fred but please don't."

"I nearly got to you," Fred whispered. "I was so fucking close! If I had just gone that little bit faster, if I had known what he was going to do to you..."

"Don't torture yourself Fred with 'what ifs', it doesn't help. Believe me I've gone over it in my mind so many times. What if I ran right out of the room rather than left? It's painful and achieves nothing."

"I'm so, so sorry. I can't believe you went through that and I'm even more sorry that I just got up and left you, that was such a dick move." He wrapped his arms around her tightly. "I can't even imagine what you went through."

"I was terrified," she recalled. "In some ways, I'm glad I wasn't conscious and I couldn't remember but on the other hand the uncertainty of what he did was a mental torture I struggled to deal with. He never acknowledged it, he never gloated, he just threw my clothes back at me and told me to get dressed because he had found the door."

Fred felt his anger rising again as she detailed Mario's callous actions in the aftermath of his despicable act, and he stroked her hair.

"I sometimes wonder," she said, "whether he even believes he ever did anything wrong at all, that whatever...he did was consensual." She shuddered and he held her close.

"Fucking animal," Fred seethed. "From what Antonio said, you were far from his only victim too but he had a level of protection around him that meant he was untouchable!"

"He was caught red-handed with the amulets and the paintings at least. He can't hurt anyone else."

"But for theft! It hardly feels like justice Daphne."

"I wanted to tell you straight away, but when I saw the relief on your face, I couldn't destroy you, it became easier to lie and forget about it."

"And have you forgot about it?"

"No," Daphne admitted desolately. "Not even close, but then all this with Devon flared up again and it became easier to push it from my mind, but I realise now that isn't fair, we have to have complete trust in each other. No more secrets Freddy, we've been through so much." She cradled his cheek now. "Just think about how many times we've came close to losing each other," she whispered. "Devon's actions have nearly torn us apart; I know his words cut deep Fred, but I urge you to forget them. He's gone now, he's actually fucking gone and I don't think we've really taken the time to acknowledge yet, what a relief that actually is!"

"I know, I kind of had that same moment of epiphany when I went out, and I realised it's ridiculous. The entire town is out there holding parties every night and celebrating and we, the people he impacted the most have barely raised a smile! I know the 'details' were tough to take but let's focus on the endgame here. A man who has tortured our lives for nearly 4 years is dead, he cannot hurt us anymore, don't we deserve to celebrate that?"

"You want to hold a party?" Daphne asked with a frown before giggling as he began to kiss her neck.

"Who said anything about a public celebration?" he murmured before kissing her properly. "We've waited too long."

It was true, in the five days since Devon's death, there had been so much tension between them as they agonised over his final cutting remarks, that they hadn't so much as kissed.

She kissed back with fervour before stopping him and looking at him intensely. "Wait, does knowing change things between us?" she asked seriously. "I don't want you to treat me any differently."

Fred felt her whole-body quiver in anticipation of what he was going to say, he would be lying if he said it wasn't something he would think of again but right now it was the furthest thing from his mind. All he wanted was her.

"No," he answered abruptly before reclaiming her lips again and pushed her back gently onto the sofa. He began to remove his shirt but panicked when Daphne stopped him.

"What's wrong?"

"Not here," she whispered with a smile. He grinned back and then swooped her up in his arms in one sweeping move and she laughed as she threw her arms around his neck as he easily carried her to the bedroom. He laid her down gently and then took off his shirt. Daphne unzipped her dress. She gasped when she saw the true extent of his battered torso. "Jesus Fred!"

He looked truly battle-scarred. His shoulder, though no longer dressed, wasn't yet healed and still looked messy. The bruises she had first seen on the night at the Docks were even more pronounced in colour now, and the angry red scarring on his wrists was still very prominent.

"Just be gentle with me," he smirked as she unbuttoned his jeans, her eyes widening at the two new impressive bruises forming on his shins, and she looked at him questioningly. "Oh, that's nothing!" he brushed off, remembering the entirely embarrassing story of where that injury came from.

"And they tried to say that I was the danger-prone one now?" she said playfully, her eyes sparkling in amusement. "Now what was it, Shaggy used to call you again?"

"Don't!" Fred groaned but he knew she very much did remember.

"Oh, that's right," she said as she gently kissed one wrist. "Jeopardy." She kissed the other. "Magnet." She kissed the bruise on his chest. "Jones." She very lightly kissed his injured shoulder before grinning at him. "Looks like you're very much the danger-prone one, from where I'm sitting."

He leaned forward and pinned her down in the blink of an eye, taking her by surprise. "Looks like you're not sitting anymore. Got anything more to say Miss Blake?"

"No," she said quietly and they both knew the time for talking was over now.

"Good," he said and their remaining clothes were hastily shed; their bodies were entwined as one again at last.

The next morning, Daphne felt as content and relaxed as she had done in the last year as she woke up nestled safely in Fred's arms. Telling him about the assault was something she had agonised over for months and she was actually close to doing so before Devon attacked Coolsville. Although she was stung by Fred's immediate reaction to leave, she couldn't blame him. He was physically battered and bruised and struggling to come to terms with such a traumatic ordeal and then she had thrown that at him. Obviously, a walk around town had done the world of good. He stirred next to her now and hugged her tightly before kissing her cheek.

"Morning," he said sleepily.

"Hey," she said twisting around to face him so she could stroke his face. He kissed her deeply.

"Ready for round two?" he murmured, circling her bare chest.

"Only round two?" she said mischievously. "I think we're well past round two Freddy."

"Huh, I guess I lost count," he admitted. "We were making up for lost time after all."

"We certainly were." She allowed herself to lose herself in his kisses for a few minutes before pushing him away reluctantly. "Come on, I need to get up!"

"You really don't," he said languidly, trying to pull her back under the covers.

She swatted his hand away before pouting at him. "I'm serious Freddy, we both need to, we have another meeting with Rory remember?"

Fred groaned. There was nothing more he would have wanted to do today than stay in bed with Daphne, but he knew Rory was promising some developments on Justin's case and he knew they needed to be there, along with Shaggy, Velma and Ethan.

They only took twenty minutes to dress and get out the apartment and made it to the military base where they agreed to hold all meetings for the foreseeable future. In stark contrast to the atmosphere that hung over them the day before the funeral, everyone seemed to be in so much greater spirits today as they chatted together before Rory arrived. Ethan grinned like a chesire cat when he saw Daphne and Fred walk in hand in hand together and when her back was turned, Fred mouthed 'thanks' to Ethan. Most intriguingly of all, Shaggy and Velma had also arrived together and if Daphne and Fred were glowing, Shaggy and Velma were absolutely electric, sharing loving looks. Daphne had Velma bundled out of the room in minutes.

"Well?!" she demanded with her hand on her hips. "The other day there was enough ice between you to sink the Titanic all over again, and today you can barely keep your eyes and your hands off each other! Spill!"

Velma giggled before replying. "I finally worked it out Daphne. I finally worked out what was holding me back from letting myself be with Shaggy. Last night, I ended up back at his apartment, bit of a long story anyway, and we slept together again."

"And?" Daphne said, anticipating the worst.

"And nothing. I woke up in his arms this morning and it was the most incredible feeling Daph!"

Daphne squealed and hugged Velma. "Oh my god! I'm so happy for you Vel! So, what was it?"

"That's exactly it," Velma revealed. "I was denying my own happiness, like I didn't deserve to be happy, but that's so stupid right?"

"Yeah," Daphne said in surprise, not willing to admit that it had immediately struck a chord with her. We deserve to be happy. I deserve to be happy.

"Hey girls," Rory said as he approached them, he sounded friendly but looked pensive as he clutched a stack of folders. "You ready?"

When they were all in the room again, it didn't take much to deflate the jovial atmosphere between the gang.

"I'm just going to come right out with it," Rory admitted. "They're pushing for life without parole."

There was an immediate shocked silence as Rory dropped that bombshell. They had all known it was a possibility under California State Law, but the hope was the extenuating circumstances of Justin being an officer, and his 'victim' being the State's worst serial killer in decades, would stand him in better stead.

"What?!" Fred exclaimed. "He's not even thirty years old!"

Ethan looked truly stunned, having been the closest to Justin. "Oh Justin, what have you done," he lamented quietly, looking on the verge of tears.

The whole gang looked shell-shocked; Velma was the first to question it. "Do they not even care that he's a police officer? That Devon had already murdered dozens of his own? I don't agree that he should face no punishment at all, but life with no possibility of parole?! For killing a scumbag like Devon?!"

"State prosecutor is going with first degree murder. That can't be disputed. Justin confessed his intent to kill Devon when he arrived at the Docks. He diverted the rest of the cops to give him time to carry it out. That's as pre-meditated as it gets."

"The public are going to go ape-shit" Daphne warned. "They don't think he even should have been arrested. What's the feeling here, Rory?"

"Everyone thinks it's a step too far. Some of the boys are really angry. We all know Justin has to be punished but I too think this is abhorrent. It's only going to provoke more outrage and attention in the case as a whole."

"You should know the press have been sniffing around us too," Fred announced. "That blonde reporter Talia? She was hanging around mine and Daph's apartment last night."

"Yes," Velma chimed in. "She tried to ambush me too. They're wholly suspicious of our supposed non-involvement."

"We can't allow anything out now, it could be too damaging. Justin has already agreed to plead guilty so there won't be a trial, the hearing could be as soon as three months," Rory revealed. "We just have to sit tight."

Three months later. (January 2013)

True to Rory's prediction, Justin's sentencing was set for January in the New Year. Inside the courthouse, there were very few people allowed in, but outside it was literal pandemonium. Every single news company in the State and beyond was camped out, and alongside them, the same protestors who had fought Justin's cause from Day 1 waved placards wildly. The gang, Ethan and Rory were permitted inside.

"Justin Richardson, you have pled guilty to the charge of murder in the first degree and today the State of California sentences you to..." It felt like the judge deliberately paused for maximum affect as everyone held their breaths but in reality, it was a natural pause. "25 years in the first instance and a further 10 years for killing with a firearm."

Justin was typically emotionless as the sentence was handed down but there were immediate howls of derision from the public gallery. It was actually the 'best case scenario' for a slam-dunk murder charge, and the gang knew there had been significant interference somewhere to get the charge reduced from the prosecution's bleak intention. For the public, however who were still going with the whole 'hero' narrative, there was immediate outrage at Justin's sentence.

Some of the strongest protests came from the families of Devon's victims. It was a strange case, usually the victim in the case was the one swelled by public support but the support here was all for the defendant. Nobody was seeking justice on behalf of Devon Blake except for the State Prosecutor who had pursued the life term.

Anticipating an absolute shitstorm of epic proportions, the gang were once ushered out the back of the building, away from the furore around the front. Talia and her fellow press vultures had not given up with the gang, springing up from time to time to challenge them.

Six months soon passed, and the public were coming to terms with what happened and started to move on. Members of the press like Talia were still refusing to believe a carefully coordinated police raid had taken place that had led to a rogue shooting by a random officer. Talia had commenced digging and found that Justin Richardson wasn't assigned with the Coolsville PD at the time of the shooting and was believed to still be out the country on a special assignment in China. The last public sighting of Devon Blake was on their TV sets the morning before when he had directly called out Mystery Inc. The young crime-fighters who were also believed out of the country. Why would he do that? Talia was determined to uncover the full story and soon hit pay dirt.