Disclaimer (I wouldn't throw this in, but seeing as I forgot the first one I'm feeling guilty): I do not own Scooby Doo. Cry.

Chapter 3:

Freddie stared at her, shocked. Time seemed to have stopped. Those next few seconds felt impenetrably long as he processed the truth.

Then he leaned in. He drew her into a hug. He stroked her long, red hair in silence. This, at least, felt good.

He spoke at last. "I… I thought you were on…"

"I was," Daphne told him. "I don't know why it didn't work. Today at the doctor's office caught me completely off-guard."

Freddie found himself no longer frustrated at what had appeared to be another tardiness from Daphne. He felt guilty now. Guilty for getting mad, however slightly. Guilty for doing this to her in the first place…

He kissed her calmly. "It's okay," he told her, although in reality he was every bit as scared as she was. "We- we'll get through this. Somehow."

Daphne looked up at him. She nodded but didn't say anything.

Fred went on. "And… and we'll have to tell the others, you know."

Daphne cringed. She knew they were her best friends. She knew she would have to share this information with them, just like she had with Fred. But facing three people seemed a hundred times harder than facing one. It was a good thing she wasn't a math major.

"Okay," she told him. "I guess when I start showing-"

"That's not what I meant," Fred told her. "I meant we should tell them… tonight."

"Tonight?" Surely that was impossible. "No, Freddie!"

Fred looked at her, surprised at this louder-than-necessary outburst.

"I mean…" Daphne tried to regain her composure. "I mean, how many couples let other people know this early on in the game anyway? Lots of things could change at this point. I… I could miscarry… or maybe I'm not really pregnant at all. Maybe the lab test was wrong, or the doctor mixed up my paperwork with someone else's..." Her voice trailed off. She knew that even now, the odds of a mistake on the doctor's part were slim. She had observed walking in that every inch of the room was meticulous, and a file mix-up seemed nearly impossible. Still, she was trying to think of something- anything- that might possibly mean that this reality was not happening.

Fred sighed. "Daphne, I know it will be difficult... but these are our friends, and we trust them with everything. They'll help us through this, and if any of that other stuff happens... they'll be there for us too."

"But so soon?" Daphne asked. "I can't just go in now. I'm still recovering from the shock of telling you."

"Well, the night's still young... tell you what. We were thinking of all going to a movie after dinner... then we might stop somewhere for ice cream or coffee or something. You can tell them then."

"I... okay," Daphne breathed. She felt a tear materialize in her eye. She blinked fiercely, determined not to cry...

Fred held her tighter and kissed her. She kissed him back. Neither of them felt sure of what was in store for them, but this was what felt good now.

"There you are!" Velma's voice came from the doorway. "You're lucky this thing doesn't have a porch light. I should have figured as much..."

Daphne almost laughed at the irony. She had been tempted to do nothing more than kiss in this private space; now Velma assumed that was what had happened the whole time. Realizing the others were done eating, Fred and Daphne neglected their unfinished meals and climbed into the Mystery Machine with the rest of the gang.