"SCOOBY!" Sophie cried, flinging her arms around the shell-shocked Great Dane.

Jade ambled in flanked by her siblings. When Scooby saw them he fell backward legs in the air.

"Scooby?" Sophie asked confusedly, "Are you okay?"

Scooby opened one eye, rolled over and pushed himself to his feet, licking Sophie's cheek.

"Sophie? What are doing on the floor?"

"Playing with Scooby," Sophie smiled up at Christina.

"Hello, Scooby," Christina greeted, "Would you like some breakfast?"

Scooby hopped in the nearest chair before helping Sophie who turned her attention to the wolves who slipped under the table. Thunder to catch food, Fluffy to sleep and Jade to be close to Scooby without causing him to faint.

Shaggy carried the pancakes into the room, "Let's eat,"

"Sit by me, Christina!" Sophie begged.

"I think we should let your Daddy sit by you," Christina chuckled, sitting across from Sophie with a smile.

"What do you want to do today, Sophie?" Shaggy asked.

"I dunno, what do you want to do Christina?"

"I have to grade papers, Sophie but you can hang out in my garden if you want, keep Matches from eating the grapes,"

"Can I show Daddy the flowers?"

"Sure!"

There was something about Christina, something that made his heart skip a beat and watching how easily Sophie interacted with her only made him happier,

But, why?

…...


"You really like Christina, don't you Sophie?" Shaggy asked just after breakfast.

"Yeah!" Sophie exclaimed happily, "She's my favorite teacher!"

"Is that so?"

"Yes,"

"Well, I like, might change that,"

"Really, Daddy?" Sophie questioned, pulling him toward Christina's garden.

"Really, Sophie," Shaggy nodded, "Like, where are we going?"

Sophie didn't answer, instead, she continued to pull him, yanking him onward with a delighted giggle.

Shaggy watched as they passed by the pumpkin patch, Volleyball field, Venus flytraps, and garden full of rotted food before coming to the opposite. A healthy, thriving garden separated by a white fence, Sophie pushed the gate open with one hand, pulling him inside with the other.

"Ta-DA! Isn't it pretty Daddy?"

"Very,"

"It's Christina's, she lets me help,"

Shaggy imagined Sophie helping by making mud pies the thought of which made him smile.

…...


Christina watched from the windows, overhearing Sophie as she excitedly recounted a story about hide and seek from the week before. Shaggy hung on his daughter's every word.

"He loves her very much,"

Christina startled, Miss Grimwood, coming to stand beside her.

"I see that," Christina smiled.

"You've been thinking about that night again haven't you?"

"Yes, I'm reminded of it every day,"

"You shouldn't let it stop you,"

"I just wouldn't be-"

"A good parent? Please, you bend over backward for these girls and she," Miss Grimwood tapped the glass, "Adores you,"

"I was going to say stable enough to adopt-"

"And you're scared to date-"

"I'm a walking mess!"

"So you are going to let that curse define you?"

"It's a freaking powerful one!"

"I know and I know it clashes with your magic or you'd be rid of it but you know as well as I do all curses are breakable. People like Regina forget that,"

"You're not going to give me the True Love conquers all speech are you?"

"I don't need to," Miss Grimwood smiled cryptically before leaving.

Never have children.

Never find love.

Never have a happy ending.

Christina glanced at her scar, the words ringing in her head.

I'll just focus on the girls like always.

…...


Monday arrived and with it a change to the class schedule. While the ghouls were in gym class outside with Shaggy, Christina took the opportunity to grade some papers. She was about halfway done when her iCoffin rang. Seeing Clawdeen's number, she answered cheerfully.

"Hey, Clawdeen! What's up?"

Clawesome news, Christy!", the Alpha squealed. "Draculaura is in LABOR! THE TWINS ARE COMING!"

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!", Christina screamed with joy for her cousin.

"Sphinx! Even holding my phone at arm's-length that hurt my ears!", Clawdeen giggled. "How fast can you get to the Steins' clinic with Lupa and Winnie?"

"Leaving right now! See you soon!"

Bursting outside she cut the girls off in the middle of their laps much to their confusion and secret relief.

"Lupa, Winnie, we need to get to the clinic!"

"You don't mean-"

"Yep,"

The two howled their excitement bounding past Christina.

"Um, what's going on?" Shaggy questioned.

"My cousin's gone into labor, I was asked to get the girls to the clinic," Christina briefly explained, " Sorry for interrupting, continue on,"

Christina ran from the field jumping into her car before peeling out of the lot and down the road.

…...


Sophie was confused.

Where did Christina go?

Why did Winnie and Lupa go with her?

When would they be back?

"Daddy? What's going on? Why did Ms. Dracula take my friends and leave so fast? What's happening?", Sophie asked, worried.

"Something wonderful, Sophie", Ms. Grimwood answered for him, having heard her.

"Huh?"

"Do you remember meeting Christina's cousin at the party?"

"Yeah, she was...OH!"

"Yeah, and like, Lupa and Winnie are related to the babies as well", her daddy told her with a smile. "Don't worry, they'll be back soon."

Sophie took her usual place by the window to wait for them. Waiting, waiting, waiting. It wasn't easy for Sophie. Her leg bounced, fingers tapped and she sighed before untimely falling fast asleep.

Only to be shaken awake by her father sometime later.

"Sophie, Sophie, wake up," he coaxed.

"What-"

"Draculaura invited us to see the babies!" Dani squealed.

"The babies came?" Sophie yawned.

"A few hours ago," Shaggy smiled, handing Sophie her shoes.

Once everyone was ready they loaded up into Shaggy's van and headed for the clinic, Sophie bouncing in her seat the entire time. Christina greeted them at the door with a smile.

"Where are the babies?" Phantasma asked, "Can we see them?"

"Of course, of course, but first you have to wash up," Christina laughed.

After the girls, all washed to their elbows Christina led them to Draculaura's room where she held the twins, Clawd smiling over her shoulder.

"Hello, girls," Draculaura grinned, "Don't be shy, come say hello,"

The girls crowded close to the bed, staring in awe at the two bundles in Draculaura's arms. One a werewolf girl, the other a vampire boy.

"What are their names?" Sophie asked curiously.

"Clawdina and Vlad,"

Dani cringed. Christina noticed, setting a comforting hand on her shoulder. Draculaura noticed too.

"Vlad is the name of our grandfather," Draculaura explained gently.

"Oh," Dani nodded in understanding.

"They're cute," Sophie whispered to Shaggy.

He nodded, picking her up so she could get a better look.

"Was I that tiny?"

"No, tinier,"

"Really?"

"Yes,"

"Christina," Draculaura asked, "Would you like to hold your niece? Duncan's already claimed, Vlad,"

"I thought you were cousins?" Phantasma blinked, confusedly.

"We are but Christina's always been more of a big sister so she's technically their aunt,"

"Oh,"

Christina sat in the nearest chair, holding Clawdina with a smile.

A smile that caught Shaggy's attention, making him feel warm inside.

Sophie inched closer to Christina.

"She's pretty," Sophie smiled at the baby.

"I think so too,"

Shaggy tried to hide his growing smile.

A smile that Clawdeen noticed.

One by one the girls slipped out to visit with Frankie who'd just returned home. Only Christina, Shaggy, Sophie, Clawdeen and Draculaura remained.

Christina remained fixated on the newborn in her arms, the smile never leaving her face.

"She loves kids," Clawdeen whispered to Shaggy.

"I noticed," Shaggy nodded to where Sophie stood beside Christina, "They love her too,"

"You don't mind Sophie being so attached to her?"

Shaggy looked at Clawdeen in bewilderment.

"I think we should step outside,"

…...


Clawdeen led Shaggy outside the clinic, away from the group of girls cooing over Vlad who slept peacefully in his father's arms while Duncan caught up with Frankie.

"You imprinted on Christina," Clawdeen declared.

"Imprinted?" Shaggy blinked.

"It's love at first sight for werewolves,"

"W-what?"

"You trust Christina with Sophie because you know Christina's not going to harm her. She gives you this warm fuzzy feeling and it feels like you're flying with no chance of landing. That protective instinct is burning, you don't want Christina to get hurt,"

"I only just met her," Shaggy argued.

"Yet, you can't stop thinking about her can you?"

"No, what do I do?"

"Just go with it, get to know her,"

"But-"

"She'll come around,"

Would she?


I clawed my way out of that slump I was in. I read some books, cuddled with my Nana's dogs, cried some, and finally got going. I know it's short but I hope you enjoyed nonetheless.