As you all may well know, I have changed the title of this story, which originally was planned to be about Daphne, but about at Chapter 2, it changed quite a bit over to a Velma story. Enjoy this chapter.

Orange

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"So, I would say that as the human mind evolves, a certain hormone triggers that sense in all of us that has criminal intent."

"Are you saying, Miss Dinkly, that all of us here are potential killers, rapists, or thieves?"

"Quite frankly, yes. It all depends on that hormone and the way that it is used in the body. For example, a study shows that young boys who frequently wet the bed can grow to be serial killers. Well, why is this, you ask. Simple. The mind of a child can be easily bended. The bed wetting experience can be embarrassing and brutal, even if the only people who know about it are your parents. Boys tend to take this hard to heart more than girls. Girls tend to have a more…stable mind at that age, which fades away around the age of 12, when the first menstrual sets in. What I'm saying, though, is that after that experience happens so many times, it triggers this hormone in the child that he goes mad, and this may not show up for months, years even. I'm not saying that if your son wets the bed, he's going to become a serial killer. I'm saying that the nerves in the young boys minds are a lot less stable than that of young girls, and should be taken seriously. That is all, gentlemen, for the day. Thank you." Velma stepped down from the podium in the speaking hall, and was quickly ushered out of the room by several men. Among them were Shaggy and Fred.

"That was a great lecture, Velmester. You're sure to get that scholarship now." Fred winked at her.

"I sure hope so. What are all these guards doing?"

"We get an escort out." Shaggy grinned. "Accordingly, at this school you're a star, and they're afraid of mobs coming after you."

Velma blushed. "Oh. Wow."

Fred laughed. "Okay, Shags, enough. We're making her uncomfortable. Daph's in the van. She left just a minute ago. She heard most of your speech; she said she felt sick, though, and that she didn't want to fight the crowds. She's waiting for us in the car."

Shaggy whispered to Velma, "I swear it was that Chinese food we had last night." He made a funny face. "My whole stomach felt like a roller coaster last night after that meal. I think that's the first time I haven't been satisfied after dinner."

She stifled a laugh.

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Daphne was sitting in the back of the van when they all piled in. Scooby Doo was laying beside her on the floor, snoring through blissful slumbers, a stuffed toy in his arms. "Hey, guys..." Daphne whispered. "Shh, he's asleep." She nodded her head towards Scooby.

Velma smiled. "Hey, are you okay, Daph?"

"Yeah, my stomach doesn't feel right, though. So, Fred, where to?" Daphne crawled into the front seat, plopping down in between her boyfriend and Velma.

"Well, it's…it's a bit of a surprise."

Daphne shrugged. "Okay, I guess…"

He grinned. "Just wait, Daph."

"Okay, okay…"

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Velma stepped out of the van, looking around her. "Fred, where are we?"

Fred grinned, jumping out of the van. "We…are at the old Malt Shop. Or…where it used to be, before it burned down."

Shaggy grinned. "Hey, this is it! Scoob, come here!"

Scooby, still groggy from his nap, slumped up to Shaggy and looked up at his friend.

"Look, dude, it's our old home away from home!"

Scooby took one look at the flat, cememted ground in front of him and burst into tears."Our…our rold rome raray rom rome!"

"Yeah, this place was great…" Velma smiled. "But…why are we here, Fred?"

"This." He picked up a 'For Sale' sign marked with a red 'Sold' sticker. "I was afraid to tell you about this, Velma, but I think now that is has to happen. Red Herring is using you, Velms. He bought the land from the old Malt Shop, and is planning to open a mini-mall. He needed you for that."

Daphne looked puzzled. "Why, Fred?"

"Because. Look, it's simple. Velma's father owned the old Malt Shop, right? Well, he's the only one who has the official right to sell his property. Unfortunately, Red knew this. So he's been trying to get to Velma and get all close to her so he could get the property from Mr. Dinkly."

Shaggy frowned. "But the sign says Sold. He already owns it, right?"

"Wrong. He doesn't 'officially' own it." He peeled the sticker off the sign. "He got this down at the hardware store the other day and taped it on. He doesn't have the land yet."

"But how do you know this?" Daphne raised an eyebrow.

"Easy. I got on the phone to Red's mother. I told her I was an old friend and was wondering where he was and what he was doing these days. Poor thing. She sounded so lonely. She talked on and on about how great her son is. It took me forever just to get off the phone with her."

Shaggy looked at Velma, who was just standing and grinning. "Velms?"

She burst into laughter. "Fred Jones, it took you this long to figure all this OUT? I've known since the day Red and I first went out. Red Herring would never date me! I just got curious as to what he was up to. So I went out with him, and even forced him into a book fair!"

Daphne sighed. "But, Velma, why did you get so mad at us when we asked about it all?"

"Because I wanted to solve this small, minute mystery on my own. I love you guys, but this mystery actually involved me, and I had to do it alone."

Shaggy smiled. "I can understand that."

Fred didn't look so pleased. "Well, Velma, are you going to tell your father to let him have the property?"

"No way! Red Herring is a snake! He's not getting our old Malt Shop!"

"That's good!" Daphne breathed a sigh of relief.

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Shaggy and Velma stood out on the back patio, the rest of the gang inside watching a movie.

Shaggy turned to Velma. "Velma, was it, like, that bad seeing Patrick?"

Velma looked up at the glittering moon that hung high in the sky, the soft breeze ruffling her light brown hair. "Well…I mean, I'm over him, but…it was so…horrible seeing him. I mean, it's like…seeing a sack or garbage walk back into your house after you've thrown it out. You know?"

He nodded. "Yeah."

Velma looked over at him and smiled. "You're a great friend, Shaggy. Thank you."

He smiled and remained silent for several minutes, just happy standing next to her, staring at the moon.

He glanced over at her just as she was sneaking a peak at him. They both turned bright red and stared back at the sky.

He spoke up. "Velma…is it possible…"

"That we could be more than friends?"

"Yeah…"

"That we could be like Fred and Daphne?"

"Yeah…"

"That we could grow old together?"

"If we live to be old…"

They smiled at one another.

Velma stood on her tiptoes and pecked his lips gently. "My thoughts exactly."

The moon continued to twinkle high in the sky, glimmering with a faint tint of the color orange.

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Voila! It is finished! I don't plan to do an epilogue, for two reasons. One, I don't think this story needs one, and two, I'm too busy writing Secret Santa. I hope you all remember to leave a review and please, please check out my story, Secret Santa! It's a new Sailor Moon Christmas story, but I promise you, you don't have to like Sailor Moon or even know what it is to like this story. Its just a Christmas romance with a bit of humor. I hope you all enjoyed this story, though, and please, please, please check out some of my others and leave me a review…eh…I'm repeating myself…sorry….hehehe….

Luv ya and God Bless!

See you next Scooby Story! ;)

LunaGirl