Sponge: Holy smokes, it's the final chapter! I made it kind of long, so I hope you enjoy this last installment! Warnings: language, kissing, and ...A LOVE CONFESSION?! Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Scooby Doo characters. They belong to Cartoon Network, Warner Brothers, and Hanna-Barbera. All dialogue in bold comes from the Next to Normal script. All lyrics to the songs "So Anyway," "I Am the One (Reprise)," and "Light" belong to Brian Yorkey.
Chapter 17: Light
One week later…
Opening night had finally arrived. The entire cast stood in the stage right wings, in full costume for the opening number. The curtain was going to open for the start of Act I any minute. They had already completed their vocal warm-ups, and they could hear the orchestra tuning their instruments in the pit. The house had opened and the audience was starting to come in, but the curtains were closed, so everyone was hidden from view. Mr. Atwood, Leesa, and the drama students had all stressed the importance of not peeking through the curtains like first-graders, so the cast just stood there waiting for their places to be called.
Scooby sat at his ASM desk, flipping through his production binder to look at the cues. He wore his headphones to communicate with Leesa and the techies in the booth, so he was surprised when the door to the hallway opened and she stepped into the wings.
"Reesa?" he said in a whisper. "Rut rar roo roing?"
The others noticed her too. She smiled at them and waved.
"I just wanted to come say 'break a leg,'" Leesa replied.
Fred looked alarmed. "What?"
Daphne laughed. "Don't worry, babe. It's a term in the theater that means 'good luck.'"
"Then like, why not just say 'good luck?'" Shaggy wondered.
"Because it's bad luck to say good luck," Daphne replied.
"Sure, that makes sense," Velma remarked.
She and Shaggy shared a secret smile. Ever since their conversation in the dressing room last week when they'd admitted their feelings, their onstage chemistry had been better than ever. Though they didn't have time to meet in the practice room anymore, they were usually able to steal a few moments backstage together during rehearsals. Shaggy had to admit, he was looking forward to just being able to fool around without worrying about time limits or being caught.
"It's an amazing show," Leesa said. "And you all are perfect for it."
Daphne smiled. She knew that was as close as Leesa could get to apologizing for her stint as the Phantom in front of Tony and Holden.
"And you're a perfect stage manager," Daphne told her, hoping she understood that she was forgiven.
Leesa nodded and smiled.
"As Dan says," Fred added. "It's gonna be good."
Everyone laughed.
"I gotta get back to the booth," Leesa said. "Break a leg, everyone! Seriously." She left the way she came.
Daphne looked around at her friends. "Hey," she said to them. "You guys...I just wanted to say I'm so glad you auditioned for this show with me. It means so much that you did this."
"Like are you kidding?" Shaggy asked, bringing her in for a one-armed hug. "This was awesome. Even though the mystery was scary, we had fun. And some like...pretty good stuff came from this play." He couldn't stop himself from glancing over at Velma, but they broke eye contact before anyone else noticed.
Velma smiled. "Of course we'd do this with you, Daphne. You're our best friend." She walked over to the redhead and put an arm around her as well.
"We'd do anything for you," Fred told her, eyes smiling.
Daphne felt her heart swell with affection for the gang. She couldn't believe how lucky she was to have them. All of them. She took a deep breath. "You guys ready?"
"I'm like, a little nervous," Shaggy admitted.
"What if I forget my lines?" Fred worried.
"Relax, Jones," Holden assured him. "You're gonna do great."
"So will you, Rogers," Tony said, clapping Shaggy on the back. "The show is golden."
"Races, reveryone," Scooby said.
With one final group hug, the actors all got set for the opening number.
x.X.x
Opening night was a huge success. Shaggy felt astounded every time the audience reacted with laughter or applause. More than once, he exited stage right and mouthed "Zoinks" to Scooby as he passed into the boy's dressing room. And it wasn't just Shaggy – everyone was doing well. Fred remembered all of his lines. Everyone's props were where they were supposed to be. Scooby called all the cues flawlessly. Shaggy's parents had indeed come to the show and though he knew it had been difficult for them both, they made sure to tell him how well he'd done and how proud they were of him.
"It really is a phenomenal show," his mother stated, the remnants of tears still visible on her face.
In fact, Shaggy's parents found the show so phenomenal that they came back for every performance. Shaggy was glad for this, because he thought that the closing matinee was the best performance yet.
He stood with Velma in the stage left wings. They had just exited after "Hey #3/Perfect for You," which had gone amazingly. Tony stood nearby as well. Across the stage, Shaggy made eye contact with Scooby, who grinned at him. Holden waited beside Scooby to enter after Daphne's song "So Anyway," which was about to begin. She stood onstage now with suitcases beside her, Fred sitting in a chair and not looking at her as the song began.
"So anyway, I'm leaving," she sang.
"I thought you'd like to know.
You're faithful, come what may
But clearly I can't stay
We'd both go mad that way –
So here I go..."
Next to "How Could I Ever Forget," this song was the most difficult for Daphne emotionally. She knew that separation was a very real possibility for her own parents, and this song always made her think about it.
"And anyway, I'm leaving –
I guess that you can see.
I'll try this on my own.
A life I've never known.
I'll face the dread alone...
But I'll be free."
Not only that, but after what Fred had confessed to her in the dressing room, about the way he feared everyone leaving him the way his mother had left, she knew this song was hard for him too. And he just had to sit there and take it while Daphne made his worst nightmare come true.
"With you always beside me
To catch me when I fall
I'd never get to know the feel of solid ground at all
With you always believing
That we could still come through
It makes me feel the fool to know that it's not true."
Daphne would never leave Fred. Not in a million years. She loved him too much. Of course, he didn't know that yet. And Daphne knew that she couldn't put off telling him forever. She had to do it eventually.
"What doctors call dysfunction,
We tried to call romance.
And true, it's quite a trick to tell
The dancers from the dance –
But rather than let chance take me
I'll take a chance..."
Fred/Dan still didn't look at her, just continued staring into space. Holden/Gabe entered then from stage right, listening.
Daphne/Diana continued her song. "I'll take a chance on leaving.
It's that or stay and die.
I loved you once and though
You love me still, I know
It's time for me to fly..."
She looked up, saw Holden/Gabe, and she addressed him as well.
"I loved you once and though
I love you still, I know
It's time for me to go..."
She felt her eyes well with tears as she imagined what it must be like to lose a child, lose all memory of him, lose your sense of reality, and have to leave your husband and daughter to get back some of what you'd lost. It was painful and heartbreaking.
"And so," she finished softly. "Goodbye..."
As the music changed, she nodded tearfully to Holden/Gabe and exited to applause. She wiped her eyes and stood next to Velma, who entered after the next song. Shaggy would wait till the end of the song to go change out of his tux.
Fred/Dan, sat on the chair unmoving. Holden/Gabe approached, but Fred/Dan didn't seem to notice.
To himself, after his wife, he began to sing.
"I am the one who loved you
I am the one who stayed
I am the one, and you walked away.
I am the one who waited...
And now you act like you just don't give a damn –
Like you never knew who I am."
At this, Holden/Gabe began to sing, while Fred/Dan echoed each line with "I am."
"I am the one who knows you,
I am the one you fear.
I am the one who's always been here."
Holden/Gabe drew closer.
"I am the one who'll hear you
I know you told her that
I'm not worth a damn,
But I know you know who I am."
Fred/Dan took a deep breath. "No," he said quietly, addressing his son for the first time.
"I know you know who I am," Holden/Gabe persisted.
Fred/Dan shook his head wearily. "Can't you just leave me alone?"
"I know you know who I am." Holden/Gabe wouldn't back down.
Fred/Dan: "Why didn't you go with her?"
Holden/Gabe: "Cause I'm holding on..."
Fred/Dan: "Let me go."
Holden/Gabe: "And I won't let go..."
Fred/Dan: "Let me go.
You don't know."
Holden/Gabe: "Yeah I want you to know."
Their emotions had been rising as they'd sung, but it reached a tipping point here as they finally faced each other and sang together in harmony.
"I am the one who held you.
I am the one who cried.
I am the one who watched while you died.
Yeah, yeah, yeah...
I am the one who loved you.
I tried pretending that I don't give a damn."
Holden/Gabe alone now sang, "But you've always known who I am."
Emotionally spent, Fred tried to blink back tears, but wasn't fully successful. "Gabe," he said, voice ragged and shaky. "Gabriel."
It was the first and only time he'd been called by his name.
Holden, too, felt emotional at the exchange. "Hi, Dad," he said thickly.
They embraced, as father and son, and the audience burst into applause.
Daphne, who after her exit to the wings had stood with Shaggy and Velma, wiped her eyes again. Shaggy swallowed several times before whispering farewell to the girls. He exited into the hallway to run around to the boy's dressing room so he could change for the finale.
Velma, stoic as ever, entered from stage left after the applause died down. She still wore her blue dress, just coming home from the dance.
"Dad?" she murmured as Holden/Gabe exited. "What the hell? Why are the lights off? Where's Mom?"
Fred/Dan cleared his throat a few times. "She's, uh, she's..."
"Gone," Velma/Natalie finished for him.
Fred/Dan nodded. "Yes," he whispered.
Velma/Natalie looked around. "Huh. So it's just me and you. For now."
"Yes," Fred/Dan said again.
Music started from the pit, and Velma/Natalie sang.
"We need some light.
First of all, we need some light.
You can't sit here in the dark,
And all alone –
It's a sorry sight.
It's just you and me.
We'll live. You'll see."
She turned on a light and exited to change out of her dress.
Fred/Dan continued the song.
"Night after night
We'd sit and wait for the morning light.
But we've waited far too long
For all that's wrong
To be made right."
Elsewhere, Daphne/Diana appeared.
"Day after day..." she sang.
"Wishing all our cares away...
Trying to fight the things we feel...
But some hurts never heal.
Some ghosts are never gone,
But we go on.
We still go on.
And you find some way to survive.
And you find out you don't have to be happy at all
To be happy you're alive."
She exited. Shaggy/Henry entered, a different day, and called off to Velma/Natalie.
"Do you know where she went? Have you heard from her?"
Offstage, Velma/Natalie replied. "Oh, I've heard from her. She's staying with my grandparents."
"Do they actually exist?" Shaggy/Henry teased gently.
Velma/Natalie entered then. "Yes," she replied, not amused.
"So – that's good, right?" said Shaggy/Henry.
Velma/Natalie shrugged. "Well, going home has never been a solution to any of my problems."
"That's what you have me for," Shaggy/Henry replied with a grin.
Velma/Natalie: "Seriously? You're like number three on my list of issues."
Shaggy/Henry: "You keep a list?"
Velma/Natalie smiled. "But don't worry, Henry. You're my favorite problem."
He returned the smile. "That's all I ask."
Velma/Natalie began to sing. "Day after day,
Give me clouds, and rain, and gray.
Give me pain, if that's what's real –"
Elsewhere, Tony/Dr. Madden had entered with Fred/Dan, and sang with Velma/Natalie,
"It's the price we pay to feel."
Tony/Dr. Madden continued alone. "The price of love is loss."
Velma turned to go.
Tony/Dr. Madden: "But still we pay..."
But before she could get very far, Shaggy caught her arm, pulled her back, and kissed her.
Tony/Dr. Madden: "We love anyway."
Reluctantly, Shaggy and Velma broke the kiss – their last one of the show – and the lights came down on them.
They came back up on Fred/Dan, who was still with Tony/Dr. Madden. "I know you can't tell me...if you're still treating her. I just, I wonder if she's okay."
Tony/Dr. Madden looked at him kindly. "I think she's working on it. And she's aware of the risks."
"Do you think she'll come home?" Fred/Dan whispered.
Tony/Dr. Madden sighed. "It's hard to know."
Fred/Dan nodded in defeat. "Right."
Tony/Dr. Madden paused for a beat. Then he said, "Dan. Would you like me to recommend someone...for you to talk to?"
Immediately, Fred/Dan shook his head and began to object. "Oh, no, I..." he trailed off and stared into space for a moment. Then, thinking better of it, said, "Yes. I would. Thank you."
They sat down to talk as Holden/Gabe appeared elsewhere, on a platform, watching over them all.
"And when the night has finally gone," he sang.
"And when we see the new day dawn,
We'll wonder how we wandered for so long, so blind."
Fred/Dan and Tony/Dr. Madden stood up. Tony/Dr. Madden wrote on the back of a card and handed it to Fred/Dan.
Holden/Gabe continued. "The wasted world we thought we knew –
The light will make it look brand new."
Fred/Dan left the office and stepped into the light.
Lights came up one by one on other members of the cast as they all sang,
"So let it
So let it
So let it
Let it..."
Elsewhere, Daphne/Diana stepped into the light, and the whole company sang in unison.
"Shine!
Shine!
Shine!"
They moved in synchronized steps towards the apron, singing together as they went.
"Day after day...
We'll find the will to find our way,
Knowing that the darkest skies
Will someday see the sun –"
Fred/Dan stepped forward, alone, and sang by himself. "When our long night is done..."
Velma/Natalie stepped forward and harmonized with him. "There will be light."
Then the rest of the company joined in. "There will be light."
Scooby, sitting at his desk, watched from the wings. This was the part of the finale that always gave him goosebumps. As the company formed into their position for the final notes, Scooby felt so proud of his friends. Obviously Daphne was a star, but Fred, Velma, and Shaggy had all held their own through this entire production. He was going to miss the show when it was over.
Holden/Gabe stood on his platform, overlooking the rest. The company, from stage left to stage right, went Tony, then Daphne, then Fred, then Velma, then Shaggy. Shaggy and Scooby shared a quick smile as the song concluded.
"When we open up our lives,
Sons and daughters, husbands, wives –
And fight that fight...
There will be light.
There will be light.
There will be light.
There will be light!"
As the music reached a crescendo and the finale came to its dramatic conclusion, the lights went down, and the audience exploded with applause.
In the darkness, Holden carefully descended from the platform to join the rest of the cast on the apron. When the lights came back up, everyone took a turn bowing, which Scooby knew from Daphne was called a curtain call.
Tony went first, grinning sheepishly as the audience stood and continued to clap and cheer. Shaggy went next, and caught sight of his parents in the same seats they'd been in for the previous three shows. He also noticed that Mayor Jones was sitting with them, as were the Blakes and the Dinkleys.
Velma noticed too, as she took the next bow. She also noticed that her younger sister Madelyn was in the audience...as well as her older sister Dottie, along with her husband Bill, and baby Lorelei. Velma couldn't wipe the shocked smile from her face.
Fred, like Tony, grinned modestly as he bowed. When Holden went, Fred noticed the tears in his eyes as he gratefully put a hand to his heart before bowing for the audience. Daphne went last, a huge, gorgeous smile lighting up her already beautiful face, and the applause was uproarious. She took a humble bow, and the cast joined hands to bow together. They let go of hands to gesture to the pit orchestra, who were still playing the curtain call music. Next they gestured up to the catwalk, where the lighting technicians flashed the spotlights, then to the booth where Mr. Atwood, Leesa, and the other heads of crew sat. Daphne noticed the tears in Leesa's eyes all the way from the stage. Finally, the cast gestured to stage right, where Scooby Doo came out from the wings to take a bow of his own.
Fred, Daphne, Velma, Shaggy, Scooby, Holden, and Tony all joined hands for one final bow together before the curtains closed.
x.X.x
Later, when the cast and crew had congratulated and hugged each other, the gang went out into the hallway to see their families.
"Hey, guys!" Tony called out, rushing over to the gang with a small group of people in tow. "I want you to meet my folks. Ma, these are my pals from school, Fred, Daphne, Velma, Shaggy, and Scooby."
"You all did an amazing job," Mrs. Moretti said. Like her son, she had a New York accent.
The gang thanked her humbly.
"This is my brother Joey," Tony continued, gesturing towards a young man who was basically just a slightly older-looking version of Tony himself.
"I think we met briefly several months ago," Joey said, shaking everyone's hands. He seemed much more jovial and friendly than the last time the gang had seen him. Shaggy could tell that Tony was relieved.
"And this is his girlfriend," Tony continued. Beside Joey stood a very pretty young woman with brown hair and brown eyes who looked to be about twenty or so.
"Julie St. James," she introduced herself. "Seriously, what a great show. Especially for a high school production. You all are extremely talented."
Embarrassed from the praise, the gang all murmured their thanks.
Holden introduced his boyfriend Jack to the gang next. Leesa and her parents came by. It seemed that someone new came up to congratulate the gang every few seconds. They even ran into a few kids from school, and all their classmates had told them how much they'd enjoyed the show.
"Seriously, V," said Marcie Fleach, a friend of Velma's from the science club. "I had no idea you could sing like that. Or play the piano."
Velma bit her lip and smiled demurely. She caught Shaggy's eye, and he nudged her proudly.
"Well, Daphne's really the star you know," Velma murmured, feeling her cheeks flame pink.
"Come on, Velm," Daphne laughed. "Enjoy your time in the spotlight for a change." So only the gang could hear, she whispered. "Me wanting to be a star so much is part of the reason the Phantom showed up. It doesn't always have to be about me all the time - in fact, it's better for us to share the glory. That's why we're such a good mystery-solving team."
"Well, the play was fun," Velma admitted, to the whole group again. "But I don't think I'm in a hurry to be in another one."
"Me neither," Fred spoke up. "I had a great time, but I'm no good at memorizing lines. I wasn't off book at all until a few days ago."
"Does this mean you'll come back to the science club now?" Marcie asked Velma.
"Only if it means Jones comes back to the football team," came the voice of Trent Adams, Fred's quarterback buddy, from behind them. Everyone laughed.
It was only when the gang found their families that the rest of their classmates dispersed.
"You were wonderful, sweetie," Mrs. Blake gushed, squeezing Daphne to her and kissing her hair. Mr. Blake proudly put a hand on her shoulder.
"So were you, son," Mayor Jones said to Fred.
"Dottie!" Velma exclaimed, completely ignoring her parents and Madelyn. "It's great to see you! What are you doing here?"
Dottie smiled. "I had to come out and see my little sister make her big stage debut. Besides," she gestured to the stroller in front of her. "There was a little bundle who really wanted to meet her Aunt Velma and Aunt Madelyn."
Velma peered awestruck at the baby in the stroller. "Jinkies," she marveled, totally enamored with her niece.
Everyone got to hold baby Lorelei for a little while. When they finished passing the baby around, Mrs. Rogers cleared her throat.
"You all did such an incredible job with this show," she said to the gang. "But more than that – you all have been such incredible friends to my son." She placed a hand on Shaggy's shoulder. "I had hoped that our move here would be better for all of us. But it's been the best for Nor – Shaggy."
Shaggy stared at his mother in disbelief. She had never called him by his nickname before.
"I couldn't have imagined better friends for him," Mrs. Rogers continued. "And I'm so grateful, to all of you, that he has you. I'm sorry for everything that happened at the end of the summer. I believe we came off a little harsh, and it was unnecessary."
"We've all done some talking," Mrs. Dinkley added. "And we've decided that as long as you don't neglect your studies, you all can continue solving mysteries together."
Scooby felt his jaw drop.
"Really? You mean it?" Fred could hardly dare to believe what was happening.
Mayor Jones nodded. "It's not every day you find friends as true as these, son. Far be it from me to try to separate you."
"Indeed," Mr. Blake added. "When you mean that much to someone...you should hold on to them."
Daphne blinked at her parents. She knew them well enough to read between the lines. They were giving her their blessing to continue seeing Fred. Not that it would have mattered if they'd forbidden it – Daphne would have found a way to be with him regardless. But it meant so much to her that her parents now accepted their relationship.
Velma stepped forward and hugged her mother. "Thanks, Mom," she murmured. "This means a lot. To all of us." The others also followed suit and embraced their parents.
"So," said Mr. Rogers. "Do you kids want to go for a late lunch at the malt shop?"
Shaggy shook his head. "Like, as hungry as I am," he began. "We have to stick around to help break down the set. I think it's called...spike?"
"Strike," Daphne corrected him with a smile. "But the cast party is at my house tonight. Parents are welcome too. We'll all be downstairs, and the adults will be upstairs. And even though there's no school tomorrow because of Veteran's Day, the party won't go too late."
"That might be nice," Mrs. Rogers conceded. "All right. You kids clean up, and we'll see you at the Blakes' house this evening."
Their families all waved goodbye, and the gang headed back to the auditorium, astonished and thrilled by what had just happened.
x.X.x
Several hours later, after the set had been broken down, the stage cleaned up, the props put away, and the ghost light turned on, the cast party was in full swing at Daphne's. Everyone who'd been involved in the production had shown up, including Mr. Atwood, Mr. Harrison, and Ms. Barden, who hung out upstairs with the parents. The students – cast, crew, and orchestra – were all downstairs. Some kids danced, some just stood around talking. But everyone was smiling and laughing.
Scooby and Shaggy, of course, were eating. It seemed that Holden Walsh and Corinne Faulkner were especially impressed by their ability to basically swallow their food without chewing it at all.
Velma stood nearby, watching with a smile. As happy as she was that Shaggy had admitted his feelings for her, she hoped that he would figure out a way to tell Scooby about them soon. For now, she'd keep her distance so as not to call attention to them. She could wait till tomorrow, when she'd go to his house to watch that scary movie like he'd suggested. Velma looked around, thinking she could talk to Daphne or Fred, but they were nowhere to be found.
She approached Tony. "Have you seen Daph?"
"She's over there with Jonesey." Tony gestured to a corner where the two of them appeared to be in very deep conversation. Velma furrowed her brow. Was Daphne finally telling Fred she loved him? Almost unconsciously, her eyes found Shaggy's across the room. He grinned surreptitiously at her, and she returned the smile.
Tony noticed. "You two seem better than ever," he said, jerking his head towards Shaggy. "Are you guys back to normal now?" He asked this last in an undertone.
Velma sighed. "It's complicated."
"Isn't it always?"
"We have to keep it a secret for now, until Shaggy figures out how to break it to Scooby."
"All right," Tony conceded. "So Jonesey and Blake don't know either, huh?"
Velma shook her head. "Nope. And seriously, Tony, we want to keep it that way."
"Don't worry," he assured her. "Your secret is safe with me."
x.X.x
"Can you believe our parents rescinded the Ultimatum?" Daphne was saying to Fred from their semi-private corner.
Fred looked at her quizzically. "Rescinded?"
Daphne sighed and chuckled. "It's an SAT word, babe. It means they took it back."
"Oh." Fred grinned sheepishly. "My lines from the play are still taking up all my brain space – I don't have any more room for memorizing vocab words."
This time, Daphne laughed out loud. "Well, we should study together more."
"What's the point?" Fred murmured, leaning down to kiss her gently. "We never get much studying done when we're together. Not that I mind."
Daphne returned the kiss, but kept it chaste. "Babe, we're surrounded by people here," she whispered.
"We don't have to be," Fred replied huskily. Daphne noticed his eyes stray towards one of the empty guest rooms.
"Mmm," she sighed, resting her head on his shoulder. "As great as it sounds to have some alone time, I don't want anyone from the party accidentally walking in on us – especially when everyone's parents are right upstairs."
"That's a good point," Fred agreed, wrapping a strong arm around Daphne's waist. "But speaking of parents, no, to answer your earlier question, I can't believe they called off the Ultimatum."
"They seem to be coming around to us," Daphne said.
Fred nodded. "You know, after Shaggy told us that he talked to his parents about his sister, I thought I might try to ask my dad about my mother. I haven't quite gotten up the courage yet, but I hope I will soon."
"I'll be here for you when you do," Daphne promised, kissing him on the cheek.
He squeezed her gently. "You're always there for me when I need you," he murmured against her hair. "It's one of the reasons why I love you so much."
Daphne felt her heart stop. She turned and gazed at Fred in disbelief. "What did you say?"
Fred looked down at her, confused. "What?"
"You...you just said you loved me."
Fred's facial expression didn't change. "Yes...?"
Daphne couldn't help it. She burst into laughter.
Now Fred looked worried. "What's so funny?"
Daphne quickly got a hold of herself. Jeepers, laughter should not be the first response to someone confessing their love. "I'm sorry," she said. "It's just..." Another giggle escaped before she could stop it. "It's just that I've been trying to get up the courage to tell you I love you for months now."
Fred looked astonished. "You have?"
Daphne nodded. "I've gotten close a few times, but we always either got interrupted, or I chickened out. I was so nervous! And it came out so easily for you."
"It is easy. Watch." Fred moved so he was standing in front of Daphne. He took her shoulders and looked deep into her eyes. "I love you, Daphne Blake."
Daphne felt her mouth go dry as her heartbeat picked up in double time. "I love you too, Fred Jones."
Velma had been right. It was so much better to look him in the eye while she said it.
They kissed, and Daphne felt as though she were floating as Fred took her into his arms. His mouth was soft, yet firm.
"Gross. Get a room, Mom and Dad."
Holden's teasing voice brought them both back to reality, and they watched as he passed by them on his way to the bowl of chips, grinning jokingly at them over his shoulder as he went.
Fred shoved him playfully and everyone chuckled.
"I'm sorry," Fred said to Daphne when Holden had passed. "I didn't realize it was such a big deal to you. Honestly, I thought I'd already said it. That's why I was so casual about it, that day we talked in the dressing room."
Daphne suddenly remembered the conversation. Fred's exact words had been "I've always had a fear that the people I love will all leave me one day."
He had told her he loved her right then. And she hadn't even realized it.
She kissed him again. "When did you know?" she asked. "That you loved me?"
Fred shrugged. "I don't think there was ever like, a moment. It came upon me kind of suddenly. But I guess I just...forgot to say it officially." He grinned sheepishly. "Sorry about that."
Daphne giggled. "It's okay," she replied. "We can make up for lost time now."
Fred's smile grew wider. "I love you."
"I love you," Daphne replied.
They could keep this up for a while.
x.X.x
"Hey, Scooby!"
Scooby had just finished chomping down some pizza when he heard Leesa call his name. He turned to see her walking towards him.
"Listen," she said, bending down so she was eye-level with him. "I just wanted to say, again, that I'm really sorry about everything that I put you through. You really were a great ASM, and I appreciated you so much."
Scooby considered her for a moment. Sure, she'd lied to them all about the Phantom. He wasn't sure if Fred would ever be able to trust her again after what happened with Daphne. But Scooby was loyal and, like Daphne, he too believed her apology. So he grinned at her.
"Rye rorgive rou," he told her.
Leesa smiled and patted him on his head. "You're a good dog, Scooby Doo," she told him. "Your friends are lucky to have you."
And he was lucky to have them too.
"Rooby Rooby Roo!" he barked.
Sponge: WOW I can't believe the second chronicle in the Origins series is finished! The series is halfway over! I'll be back in a week with some important information about the next story in the series. In the meantime, review if you please! Thanks for reading.