"Your Grandmother?" Shaggy echoed, dumbfounded to which Christina nodded.

Yet again, Shaggy fainted from surprise.

With her father unable to help her, Sophie rammed into Christina, shaking with fear.

"It's alright, Sophie," Christina wrapped her arms around the shaking girl, "It's okay, I promise."

Sophie only tightened her grip as if she could disappear just by holding on.

Maleficent meanwhile, watched as Christina worked to calm the fearful five-year-old.

"Am I wrong in assuming-" Winnie began.

"Class dismissed"

the slamming of textbooks and excited chatter filled the air as the girls all rushed for the door, eager to go outside and unwind. Only Sophie remained clinging to Christina for dear life.

"Mommy," she whimpered.

Christina picked Sophie up carrying her from the classroom, maleficent behind them. the hybrid frowned at the feeling of tears on her shoulder. She changed direction going from Sophie's room to her own where she tried to put the girl down only for Sophie to hang on with a vice grip.

"Sophie, don't you want to lay down?"

"No, don't leave!"

"I'm not going anywhere, I promise"

It took some work but Christina managed to put Sophie on the bed, only for her to grab onto her side.

"Nice going, Grandmother," the hybrid muttered.

"I blame that movie," Maleficent eyed the poster for said movie on the opposite wall.

Christina gave no response, her focus entirely on Sophie.

"You don't have to be scared, Sophie, she isn't going to hurt you"

"How-how do you know that?"

"Because that's my Grandma"

Sophie looked up at Christina in surprise, "Really?"

"Yes," giggled Christina, pulling a photo album from the nightstand, "See? This was me when I was just a little bigger than you are now"

Sophie looked at the picture curiously. There was a little girl-mommy she realized-sitting on Maleficent's lap.

"Now," Christina declared once Sophie was calm, "I think we should wake your Daddy, don't you?"

Sophie scrambled out of the bed and down the hall shouting "Daddy!"

With her occupied, Christina and Maleficent went to the empty living room.

"Is there a reason you showed up mid-lesson?" Christina asked, conjuring the tea tray as she sat down.

"I like surprises," Maleficent declared.

Christina waited. There was always more.

"-And I heard about the attack"

There it was.

"It came out of nowhere"

"Are you okay?"

"I'm getting there," Christina sighed, "Slowly"

"Good," Maleficent smiled.

"I can't wake him up!" Sophie declared with a pout, marching into the room with the wolves on her heels.

"I think I know what to do," Christina laughed.

Walking quickly to the classroom she found the duo where she'd left them. splayed on the floor with bewildered expressions on their faces. With a soft smile and a little magic, she pushed open the door letting the smell of baked goods drift inside.

The two were up in seconds.

"Like, there's pie?" Shaggy asked hopefully, rubbing his hands together.

"No, sorry boys, I just had to get you up"

their faces fell.

"Tell you what, take Sophie and pick me some apples and I'll make you some pies"

"Okay, C'mon, Scoob!"

Christina returned to her grandmother shortly afterward.

"I'm sure you know who's responsible for the attack?" Maleficent asked slowly.

"Yes, she won't be getting away with it," Christina nodded, "She put everyone in danger including her granddaughter"

"I assume you made arrangements?"

"I pulled a few strings"

"And?"

"He'll be here in two days"

…...


Outside, Shaggy was trying to figure out how Christina fit so many fruit trees into one garden while Sophie zig-zagged picking the best ones and enlisting Harper's help to get them.

"Look at this one!" Sophie brought him another large red apple.

"Good job, Sophie, put it in the basket"

The basket was nearly full.

"Sophie, come look at this one!" Harper called from the branches of the nearest tree.

"Like, be careful Harper, you like, just had your bandages removed"

"I'll be okay" Harper insisted.

Shaggy tossed a glance at the school wondering what Christina and Maleficent were discussing.

"Daddy, come look at these!" Sophie cried.

Turning from the school, Shaggy wandered the trees until he found Sophie with arms full of apples.

"We need another basket," Harper informed him.

It didn't take long to forget the secret discussion when Shaggy was sent back and forth to the gardening shed fetching basket after basket.

…...


"Did you leave any apples on the trees?" Christina asked in surprise when Shaggy, Scooby, Sophie and, Harper marched inside with eight large baskets filled with apples.

"Yes, Mommy," Sophie promised, carrying the smallest basket.

Once Sophie had set the basket on the table she beelined back to Christina, scrambling onto her lap with a grin.

It was impossible not to return the smile.

"Christina"

Sophie jumped, she had forgotten Maleficent was there but instead of hiding her face, she turned around to look at the elder fairy who wore a smile of her own.

"Yes?"

"Would you like to come over for Thanksgiving?"

"Yes, I'd like that very much"

Now Sophie was confused. Wasn't Mommy supposed to come home with her and daddy for Thanksgiving? Was Maleficent trying to take Mommy away?

"Sophie," Shaggy poked his head into the room, "Like, if you want Mommy to make pie we've like got to wash the apples"

Begrudgingly, Sophie went to the kitchen leaving Christina and Maleficent alone once more.

"She's awfully attached to you," Maleficent smiled.

Christina smiled but couldn't help rolling her eyes, "I know you've been watching"

"And I like what I'm seeing"

Christina flushed.

"Sophie and her father are just what you need"

"Stooop"

"You know I'm right"

"So you get to embarrass me?"

"Yes, that's the fun part of being your grandmother"

Christina could have died.

…...


Regina was blindsided to see so many of the Queen's Guard at her door.

"Yes?" she asked, snidely.

The guard's parted to reveal the Queen herself.

"Your Majesty, what an honor-"

Elissabat held up a hand for silence and began to read from the scroll she held with a satisfied smirk.

"Regina Elizabeth Bathory you are under arrest for the practicing of illegal spells and endangerment of innocents you are henceforth stripped of your title as is Drew and your position in court will be turned over to your youngest son immediately

Regina's mouth was hanging open.

"And before you say it, you should be aware Gory has received the same punishment," Elissabat added sweetly before stepping back, "Take her away boys"

…...


"Best Pie ever!" Shaggy declared after licking his plate clean, "Right, Sophie?"

Sophie only nodded quietly, picking at the slice of pie which she'd barely touched.

"Sophie?" Christina asked worriedly, "What's the matter?"

Sophie left, running out of the room quickly.

Shaggy stood to follow but Christina beat him to it.

"Sophie?" Christina found the trembling girl hiding in her bed, "What's the matter?"

The tear-filled eyes broke Christina's heart when Sophie looked at her.

"She's going to take you away!" Sophie wailed.

"Oh, Sophie, no one's taking me away from you," Christina promised, pulling Sophie into her lap, "Nothing ever could"

"But she will"

"No, she won't nothing and no one could ever keep me from you, do you understand?"

"Then-then why are you going there?"

now, Christina understood what was going on.

"Because I don't want Grandmother to be alone"

"Alone?"

"Yes, my Mommy isn't alive anymore and my auntie isn't very nice so I go to keep Grandmother company"

It also kept Christina from falling to pieces but Sophie didn't need to know that.

Sophie sniffled, clinging tightly to her.

Christina stayed there with Sophie until long after she quit crying, having fallen asleep, and still, Christina refused to move. When she looked up, she found both Shaggy and Maleficent watching from the doorway with smiles.

"Shh,"

Shaggy lifted Sophie from Christina's arms, taking her to bed even though she'd just wind back up in Christina's bed asking for a story in a few hours.

…...


Two days later, Valerie got quite the shock.

One moment, she was not so secretly sleeping through History and the next her Uncle Felix stood before her.

"Hey, Valerie"

Valerie rubbed her eyes confusedly, "What are you doing here?" she sneered.

"C'mon, we need to have a talk"

"Mother won't be happy you're here"

"That's what we need to talk about, come on"

Valerie left Miss Grimwood's classroom pausing just long enough to scare Sophie who was having spelling lessons next door.

"Mommy!" she wailed upon spotting Valerie.

Christina shut the door with an eye-roll.

Valerie followed her uncle into the living room where-no sooner had she dropped onto the couch-did he drop a bombshell on her.

"Your mother's been stripped of her parental rights and her place at court"

"WHAT?"

"Because of this, your care falls to me"

"But Grandma-"

"Is in jail for the rest of her unlife, regular, high-security magic proof jail"

Valerie continued her fish out of water impression.

"You're also no longer allowed to see or speak with your father"

now, she could have fainted.

"Pack your bag, I'm taking you out of school for a few weeks so we can get you moved into my house"

She did faint.

Valerie was quickly revived and made to pack her bag begrudgingly. She hated every minute of it but especially seeing the wide grin on Sophie's face as the car pulled away from the school.

…...


"She's gone!" Winnie and Lupa cheered later that night.

"Good riddance" added Dani.

"Agreed," chimed Webbigale happily.

"Girls!"

the celebrating students stopped dead in their tracks at the sight of Christina in the doorway.

"She'll be back you know"

"Awwww" they collectively pouted.

"Hey, Where's your little shadow, Aunt Christy?"

"Sophie's gone cherry-picking with her father and Harper now the next person I catch celebrating Valerie's departure will be giving Matches his bath, do you understand?"

"Yes ma'am"

"Good"

…...


Christina sat alone. In the dark, as only a cliché could. The conversation hung over her head like an ever-present storm cloud. Or rather, the lack of conversation.

Shaggy's imprinting.

The kiss.

Just the thought of which made her blush but Christina wasn't ready.

No, she'd never be ready nor would she ever be completely okay. It was, however, something she couldn't avoid forever. The reminder of which came in the form of Shaggy knocking at the door.

"Come in," she called softly, turning on the lamp while trying to look busy.

Shaggy stepped inside, closing the door behind him before sitting in the vacant reading chair.

"Like, we need to talk"

"I know"

"I like, know you're scared and that you can't like, have an official happily ever after but cursed or not I want to try. I know you want to try even if you won't admit it to yourself"

"Shaggy-" she looked away, tears welling in her eyes.

He grabbed her hands, "Please, Christina? We have to try"

Looking at him through her tears, seeing his pleading gaze she broke.

Even though this road could lead to nothing but heartache she relented.

"Okay, we can try"

…...


Short chapter but I think that's a good stopping point.

Please review.