Shaggy woke with a yawn, stretching his arms over his head as he sat up. Sophie and Christina were fast asleep across from him. It took him a moment to recall why he was in Christina's room. After they had gone on a walk around the school grounds they had returned to Christina's room and talked for hours.
Standing, he folded the quilt, and attempted to tip-toe past the sleeping duo only for Sophie to sit up.
"Daddy, it's dark outside," she said.
"I see that. It's like, storming outside," Shaggy explained, "Shh, don't wake Christina,"
"Too late," Christina yawned, "How about breakfast?"
…...
Shaggy stood back and watched Christina who moved about the kitchen like a pro. Today it was french toast. Sophie stood on a small stool, helping Christina.
"She loves kids,"
Miss Grimwood had snuck up on him, her voice barely a whisper.
"That's what Clawdeen said,"
"It's true, poor girl,"
"Huh?"
The Headmistress didn't respond, only watching Christina
"Do you want to put the sugar on the toast?" she was asking Sophie.
"Can I?" Sophie gasped, eyes wide with wonder.
"Yes, as soon as I finish it,"
Sophie cheered.
Shaggy didn't miss the stars in Sophie's eyes and the warmth in Christina's.
"I smell french toast!" Winnie bounded past them.
"YUMMY!" Tannis cried happily.
"Wait for me!" Phantasma called.
"and us!" Dani, Webbigale and, Lupa followed behind them.
"Girls," Christina giggled, "The kitchen isn't big enough for everyone. Go to the dining room and would someone wake Valerie?"
The girls cast sidelong glances at each other. No one wanted to wake Valerie who was not a morning person.
"Please?"
"I, like, have an idea", Shaggy grinned after taking a deep sniff of breakfast. He went to Valerie's room and simply opened the door a bit, allowing the delicious smell to enter.
"Something smells yummy", the young vampire yawned, then grumbled, "Okay, I'm up. They better have my tomato juice/'O'-positive cocktail ready or heads are gonna roll."
Once everyone was at the table they were happily chowing down on breakfast.
"Like, because of the weather volleyball practice is canceled,"
As if to emphasize the point thunder crashed and the lights above them flickered.
"EEP," Sophie cried, "Scary,"
Christina looked to Miss Grimwood who nodded her approval.
"How about a movie day, girls?" she asked.
"A movie day?"
"Yes, we'll gather in the living room have popcorn and soda and won't do anything today,"
"That sounds awesome," Dani nodded vigorously.
"Okay then,"
…...
Beanbags, pillows, and blankets littered the living room floor minutes later. Christina was busy setting up their movie, through her laptop. Sophie inched closer to her, dragging Ruby with her.
Christina's digital library flickered across the large screen.
Fairy tale movies.
Romantic comedies.
Crime themed television shows.
"Who wants to pick-"
Everyone clamored for the computer.
Everyone except Valerie who stuck to the shadows.
"I'll be controlling the computer," Christina said.
The girls spoke over one another, vying for her attention.
Christina turned away from the computer, hands on her hips, a smirk pulling at her lips.
"Can-can I pick?"
Sophie asked quietly, so quietly that if she hadn't been close to Christina she wouldn't have heard her.
"Sure, Sophie,"
It was far too easy to guess what Sophie picked. Christina settled into an armchair with her tablet as the opening titles of Sleeping Beauty scrawled across the screen. Only to be pulled from her attempt at working by Sophie hopping into her lap.
"This is my favorite movie," she whispered.
"Mine too,"
Knowing Christina had intended to work, Shaggy moved to get Sophie from her lap only for Christina to mouth it's okay at him. Sophie snuggled in close, shifting to see the movie. Christina held onto her with a smile, eyes aglow with happiness. How Sophie had grown so attached to Christina Shaggy wasn't sure but he couldn't deny how good it felt to see his normally nervous daughter make friends. Even if one of those friends was a teacher.
A teacher he might have feelings for.
Small feelings, barely a flicker.
Or so, Shaggy told himself.
Quiet hours passed, the only change was the movie and the snacks. Sophie didn't move from Christina's lap simply shifting every once in a while.
Quiet and perfect.
…...
Sophie had fallen asleep and now she was waking up. Eyes still closed, she listened. Christina was humming. The gentle tune would have been enough to lull her back to dreamland if not for the fact that she was hungry, opening her eyes Sophie sat up beaming at Christina who returned her smile in the glow of the movie.
"Have a nice nap, Sophie?"
"Yes but, now I'm hungry,"
"Then you'll be happy to know your father is going to get some pizzas for us,"
Sophie clapped excitedly.
"Pizza," Valerie rolled her eyes, "How common,"
"Hey," Winnie barked, "Why do you always have to be such a stick in the mud,"
"You don't know what's good, Winnie,"
"Why?" the spunky werewolf challenged, "Because my mother isn't in the lowest rung of the vampire court?"
"How dare-"
"ENOUGH" Christina yelled, thunder crashing behind her, "We are not having a my horse is bigger than your horse argument!"
"No one-"
"VALERIE!"
"You don't scare me!" Valerie sniffed, haughtily, "You're all butterflies and sunshine,"
Christina's eyes went red, blazing with a fiery intensity that caused the girls to shudder as lightning cracked across the sky illuminating the shadow of a fearsome dragon directly behind Christina. After taking a deep breath, she spoke:
"I may be good Valerie but I'm still a dark fae, do you know what that means?"
Valerie whimpered despite herself.
"It means, don't test me,"
"Like, We're back!", Shaggy called, carrying a stack of pizzas so tall it blocked his vision, followed by Scooby carrying a similar stack. "And that's not all!"
"Hey, Sis!", a familiar male voice called as he came in carrying multiple bags containing salads, pastas, cheesy-bread-sticks, buffalo wings, and sodas.
"DRAKE!", Lupa squealed with delight, jumping up to help carry all the food.
"Drake", Valerie sighed gushingly, her blood-red eyes practically flashing hearts.
Sophie scrambled off of Christina's lap and skipped her way to the dining room excitedly.
Chuckling to herself, Christina stood, shutting off the movie and clearing the abandoned living room with a wave of her hand.
When she got to the dining room she found that Valerie had claimed the seat on the opposite side of drake leaving Winnie annoyed as she claimed the seat across from her cousins.
She was grumbling.
Christina settled into her usual place shaking her head at Winnie.
Sophie jumped into the seat beside her with a smile.
Christina began to gag her lungs were burning. Sunlight didn't harm her but garlic more than made up for it, the numerous doctors she'd seen as a child had said they'd never seen a reaction this severe.
Tannis acted quickly, "Sophie you can't have garlic around Christina,"
"It can't be anywhere near her," added Lupa, hopping up from her seat to help her godmother.
Phantasma swooped in, gathering all the garlic-laden pizzas and tossing them to the wolves outside.
Christina chugged her soda, breathing the now clear air to calm her lungs.
"I'm like, so sorry!" Shaggy exclaimed, rushing to Christina.
Christina held up her hand, "You couldn't have known, I'm sorry I didn't mention it,"
Sophie hugged Christina apologetically.
"It's okay, Sophie, here," Christina handed Sophie her uneaten pizza before standing to get a new one only for Shaggy to beat her to it.
"Now, girls," Miss Grimwood called for their attention.
Everyone turned their attention save for Valerie who was making goo-goo eyes at Drake who was trying to avoid her gaze. Valerie only snapped to attention when Christina zapped her.
"Tomorrow, weather permitting, the cadets will be over for joined exercises,"
"And if it rains again?" Phantasma questioned.
"Like, then we'll be doing drills in the gym," Shaggy explained.
The girls booed much to the amusement of the adults.
"And if you do well, Drake and his classmates will visit next Saturday,"
Now, the girls cheered.
Well, except for Sophie who was confused.
"That sounds like fun, huh, Drake?" cooed Valerie, rubbing on his arm.
"Yeah, fun," Drake jerked away, switching seats with his sister.
Valerie tried to follow only for Christina's withering glare to freeze her in her tracks.
"Sit back down, Valerie,"
Remembering the shadow on the wall earlier, Valerie went back to her seat with her head down.
What next? Would Christina spit fire? Grow horns like those of the shadow's.
Valerie didn't want to find out.
…...
"She's driving me crazy!" Lupa whispered.
The girls were stretched out in Tannis's room whispering the night away.
"Agreed," Winnie grumbled, "You think she would take a freaking hint! He's not interested!"
"She's totally obsessed!" added Tannis.
"Maybe we should lock her in her room when the boys visit?"
"No one is locking anyone anywhere,"
The girls yelped. Christina stood in the doorway with Sophie in her arms.
"But, Christina! She's bugging my brother!" Lupa argued, "Ya know your favorite godson?"
"Don't you have a younger brother? Doesn't he get upset when Drake gets called the favorite?"
"No, Phantasma, it's a running joke in the family,"
"Oh,"
"I acknowledge that she's bugging Drake but locking her in her bedroom is not the answer,"
"I didn't say it had to be her room," Winnie smirked.
"Isn't there a decommissioned dungeon somewhere?"
"Girls,"
"Sorry,"
"Christina, do you know where Dani is?"
"She crashed in the living room, I let her be. Now, go to bed,"
…...
Christina was curled under her blankets, staring blankly at the page before her. Sophie was curled fast asleep beside her.
"Christina, have you seen-"
"Shh," Christina placed a finger to her lips, pointing to the sleeping girl.
"Oh," Shaggy nodded, "I'll take her,"
"No, it's okay, she's fine, come in,"
Shaggy entered, Scooby ambling behind him, too tired to run from Jade who was sleeping at the foot of Christina's bed. Unluckily for him, Jade woke up once she smelt him.
"Before you two engage in cat and mouse kindly take it outside," Christina sternly advised.
The two quietly slunk from the room leaving Shaggy and Christina to themselves.
"I hope Sophie doesn't bother you," Shaggy said, "I know you meant to work earlier,"
"No, I don't think I would have gotten any work done. Besides, I finished it while she took a nap,"
"Like, you weren't going to sleep now were you?"
"Nope, I can't,"
"Then how about a walk?"
"Sure thing,"
…...
Sophie woke from her nightmare with tears running down her face.
Christina wasn't there.
Nervously, Sophie slid from the bed and crept to the window. It was still raining and through the rain, she could see her daddy and Christina in the pumpkin patch. She wanted to run out there and ask to be picked up but they were talking and Sophie had been taught not to interrupt when the adults were talking. Instead, she turned on the lamp and found Christina's fairy tale book.
"D-dragon-"
and Her daddy would be so proud if she could read without help.
"Once...upon...a..time."
Christina had been helping her learn.
Maybe she could read the story on her own surprise her?
…...
"Like, did you always want to be a teacher?" Shaggy asked.
The storm had settled into a light drizzle by then.
"I think so,"
"I wanted to be a chef,"
"I think you would be a good chef,"
"What makes you say that?"
"Your daughter for one thing,"
"Yeah," Shaggy chuckled, "She likes pancakes,"
"I know,"
"So, how'd you learn magic,"
"I developed my powers, there's a difference but I was taught to control them,"
"Who taught you?"
"I had a few magic teachers for the first two years then my Grandmother took over teaching me,"
"Your grandmother's alive but your uncle raised you?"
"That's right, Grandmother doesn't live here and she wasn't aware of me at first. She and Uncle Dracula had quite the argument when she found out,"
"I take it they worked something out?"
"Yes, I started spending my summers with her,"
"That sounds fun,"
"It was but there was also a lot of work, learning magic isn't easy,"
"The girls seem to like, be doing okay,"
"That's because what I teach them corresponds with their abilities, what I have to learn is totally different,"
Shaggy nodded understandingly and the two completed their walk in silence.
…...
"Sophie, what are you doing up?"
"I had a bad dream again, Daddy,"
"I'm sorry," Shaggy replied when Sophie hopped onto his lap.
"Were you reading it by yourself?" Christina asked, softly hanging up her jacket before climbing back into bed.
"Yeah,"
"Good job!" Christina cheered.
Sophie blushed.
"Like I think it's time to go to your bed," Shaggy decided, standing with Sophie who was already nodding off.
"Good night Sophie,"
"Good...night...Mommy,"
…...
Hours later Christina was still wide awake. She knew she should have been asleep. It was back to business as usual tomorrow. The preparations for the belated volleyball game were to start. But Christina just couldn't sleep.
Sophie had called her Mommy.
True, she was nodding off, probably halfway to dreamland but...
Mommy.
For years Christina had yearned to be called Mommy.
With every wedding.
With every birth.
Another child to spoil,
another child who knew her as Aunt Christina.
Her heart was breaking.
In the silence, Christina cried.
…...
Shaggy lay awake. It didn't matter how much he ate. He was still wide awake.
Mommy.
Sophie had called Christina Mommy.
Come morning she would be back to Miss Christina and Shaggy though he was loathe to admit it, couldn't stand the thought.
Christina was more of a mother to his child than even she thought. More than Sophie's birth mother would have ever been.
…...
Five years earlier:
Shaggy was woken up by beating on the door. Stumbling over Scooby he hurried to answer it. He was bewildered to see Googie standing there, scowling.
"Googie, what-"
"This little beast is yours" she huffed shoving a crying bundle into his arms before stomping back to her car.
Shaggy tentatively pulled back the blanket to discover a baby. A werewolf.
"Shh, shh," he shushed her, "Scoob, call Mom,"
"Right," Scooby bounded away to do just that while Shaggy moved to the sofa, readjusting to hold the baby properly.
Scooby brought Shaggy his phone.
"Norville, what's the matter?"
Wincing at the use of his birth name Shaggy spoke, "Mom, I have a kid,"
"What?"
"You're a grandma,"
"How? When? Who?"
"Googie,"
Stacy huffed, "I never did like her you know, especially after what happened-"
"Mom, baby, help, remember?"
"I'll be right over,"
A scant ten minutes later, Stacy, Sam, and Sugie arrived, all crowding around Shaggy.
"She just handed you the baby and left?!" Sugie demanded, appalled.
"Yeah," Shaggy whimpered, "I don't have anything here and I think she's hungry,"
The baby howled as if agreeing.
"I'll run to the store and get some things," Sam decided, rushing out the door.
Stacy sat beside her son, "Does she have a name?"
"No, like, I don't think so,"
"Then, what will you name her?"
"Sophie sounds cute," Sugie piped.
"I like it, her name's Sophie,"
"Let's get her fed and to the hospital, I don't think she's been checked out yet,"
"Mom, we'll have to go to the monster hospital-"
"Of course,"
Two days later, Shaggy had a fully stocked nursery thanks to Daphne, all the parental advice books he could ever need thanks to Velma and, Fred had decided to help with the upkeep of the house.
With the help of his friends and family, Shaggy knew he'd be able to raise his daughter.
…...
Now:
Christina was still awake when her bedroom door opened and Sophie tiptoed inside, climbing on top of her.
It was business as usual once again.
"Christina?" Sophie asked minutes later, "Are you awake?"
"Yep," she forced a smile.
"It's not raining anymore,"
"I see,"
"Will we go outside today,"
"Yes,"
"Sophie, I think we should let Christina sleep a little longer," Shaggy yawned, stepping into the room.
When he tried to pick her up, however, Sophie doubled down and wouldn't release.
"No, I wanna stay here!" she pouted.
"She's fine," Christina whispered, on the cusp of sleep, "Let her be,"
Shaggy gave up and plopped into the reading chair. They had a long day ahead and though Christina seemed fine he wasn't fooled.
There were tear trails on her face.
,,,,,,,,,,
There was going to be more but there is a lot going on at least for me. The fact that I got this to 12 pages makes me happy as I kinda fell out of habit when my computer broke. As always, a big thank you goes to my friend, DRAGONDAVE45
Anyway, please, review!
