Chapter 14:

"Okay... now I guess about the first thing we want to decide on is a date. I guess it would be best before November, you know, so the baby will be... uh..."

"Legitimate?" Daphne finished for Freddie. Everyone was crowded around the table in Fred's kitchen, making plans for the wedding. "I guess that makes sense, but..."

"But what?"

"Well, I kind of hoped I wouldn't have to look fat on my wedding day..." she started, then shrugged. "Ah, well, at least if I'm still pregnant I'll have an excuse."

"How about a summer wedding? Say, in mid-August..." Fred suggested.

"August 12, I guess." Daphne decided.

"Is there anything special about that date?"

"Not really... just that it's a Saturday and everyone will be off work."

"Okay... August 12 it is."

Not a lot was coming from Shaggy, Scooby, and Velma's end of the table, but not because they weren't interested. Velma was busily flipping through bridal magazines, and Shaggy and Scooby were exploring culinary possibilities.

"Hey Daphne... maybe something like this?" Velma offered. Somehow she had found an entire book full of maternity gown options.

Daphne looked for a moment, then pondered, "I don't know... does there seem to be something hypocritical to you about a white maternity wedding dress?"

Velma, who had taken it for granted that the bride would wear white, suddenly understood what Daphne was saying.

"Well... we wouldn't have to get a white one... maybe pale lavender?"

"Sounds good," Daphne responded.

Now Shaggy spoke, trying to sound professional but only sounding unnatural. "Now, is there going to be a... a toast?" Wow! He said a whole sentence without slipping a "like" in there somewhere. "Because the champagne--"

"--will be nonexistent," Freddie responsibly finished. "It wouldn't be fair to Daphne if she couldn't drink at her own wedding while everyone else could. Besides that, Velma's underage."

"Oh... right." It was easy for the rest of the gang to forget that Velma was a couple years younger than they were. After all, she had skipped enough grades to be in their classes throughout school-- she could have skipped more if she had been willing to leave her friends. And she was probably the most mature out of all of them-- she was certainly the smartest. Still, being eighteen, champagne for her was illegal and out of the question.

"So... like how about sparkling apple cider?" Shaggy suggested instead.

"Much better," Fred approved.

This felt good. This was something the gang hadn't really done in a while-- really worked on something, anything, together. Sure, they were employed together, but it was different when you were getting paid. It was different when you had to do it.

So went the afternoon-- somehow, plans were arranged for a wedding that would take place in only two months. Even the honeymoon was more or less in order-- Freddie and Daphne would drive down to Florida and spend about a week there. With a much clearer idea in mind than they had had that morning, the friends started going their separate ways, until only Fred and Daphne remained.

Daphne started putting on her rain poncho-- there was a hint of a storm out there. "So," she asked Fred, "how do you feel about the wedding?"

"Great. Prepared."

"Yeah, I'm terrified too."

She kissed him and left.