A/N: I still don't own it.

Velma examined the piece of fabric she had found inside the old mansion and exclaimed "Jinkies!" at her find. She thought for a few minutes before saying, "I just need a few more clues and then I'll have this mystery about wrapped up."

Fred nodded and said his standard phrase. "Time to split up gang. You three go investigate the greenhouse and Daphne and I'll check the attic." He fought it off but he couldn't help how red he became as Velma smiled teasingly. What he didn't know was that Daphne was wearing a blush identical to his own. Velma winked at him as she and the other two walked in the opposite direction of their friends.

"C'mon, Daphe," Fred suggested gently, putting a hand softly on her back as he led her to the attic they had agreed to investigate. "Let's go."

She only nodded but was a bit preoccupied when they got to their searching place. When Fred asked what was wrong, she shook her head, barely paying attention, until she looked up and into his eyes.

"Freddy, what were you going to say to me? You know, when we were tailing the Hex Girls for clues?"

He took a deep breath and moved to stand in front of her. "Daphne, there's never really been a time to tell you this, but I really think you should hear it, and not from Shaggy at the rate I've been going, but…" He was rambling, something he was famed for doing when he was nervous. Daphne was smiling. If she made any other boy nervous it annoyed her because it was usually just because of her looks or her money. With Fred, she loved seeing him flustered. Not only was he cute that way, but she liked that she had caused his anxiety. It made her feel special around him.

"C'mon Fred," she cut him off. "There's nothing to be nervous about. It's just little ol' me." She batted her eyelashes a couple times and Fred gulped. How did she do that?

"You're not just anything any more, Daph. You haven't been for a while," he mumbled. No matter how low he said it, she heard anyway, and her gaze pressed him on. "Daphne," he began. "We've known each other for a while now, and…well you see Shaggy and Velma and how close they've become. You're my best friend, but…I think I've fallen in love with you."

Daphne's eyes widened. That wasn't what she was expecting. She had expected him to say that he liked her or had a crush on her or even something bad like that "Danger-prone Daphne" needed him to protect her. Love? This was fast.

But that didn't mean it was bad.

"Freddy," she had to ask, "When did this happen?"

He shook his head and, glumly, said, "I don't know. I didn't know it was happening until too late. All I know is that you were missing once and I was just as worried about you as I would be about Velma and then the next time, I was panicking and I knew I'd do anything to get you back."

That explained a lot. It seemed that it was usually Fred who found her and, if it wasn't, he would sprint from wherever he was the moment he heard where she was. Whenever she got hurt, he was the first one kneeling by her side, the first to help her up or to bandage a cut. The only time she had been in a hospital for more than two days he had stayed almost the entire time, leaving only once when she was awake and gave him the go-ahead, and then only for fifteen minutes. He loved her.

She took a few minutes to settle into that thought before discovering that she liked it very much. It was so secure and comfortable. It was safe. Fred was one of the most consistent people she knew and he was the most stable. If he said he loved her, he had thought a long time about that very thought. He might do something suddenly, but he always thought about what he said, even if it sounded crazy. It always made sense to him.

Unfortunately, the timing was off. They heard footsteps coming up the attic stairway and, as they turned, they saw the very creature they had been trying to solve. Fred yelled to run and Daphne turned to do just that but she tripped over a box and the creature stood over her with a huge imposing shadow. Daphne screamed and Fred jumped in front of her, taking a bat he had found and knocking the creature to the side. He fell into the wall and got stuck there but Fred paid him no mind. "I guess that wasn't the best time," he chuckled nervously as he stooped down next to her. As he took her arm to pull her to her feet, she laughed.

"No Freddy, the timing was perfect." She stood on her tip-toes and kissed his cheek before saying, "I love you too."

Alerted by the crash, the others in the gang came rushing up and Velma unmasked the villain. Fred and Daphne were each too busy eyeing the other from the corners of their eyes to notice who it was and on the way home they sat next to each other, like usual, and Daphne occasionally brushed her fingertips over his arm. It had been time, and Fred was happy that he had taken the opportunity. At last, Daphne was his girlfriend, and she'd always be his best friend.