Epilogue

Part one

Exactly at 2 pm, The knock on the Crowleys' front door announced the arrival of FBI Field Agent Rupp. After some small talk, the real reason for the visit became clear. An exchange of information was the order of the day.

The Crowleys, MJ, Shaggy and agent Rupp sat around the dinning room table, a tape recorder sat in the middle of the table. After introducing every one to the recorder, agent Rupp took MJ's and Shaggy's story for her report.

During the story, MJ exclaimed, "Sweetheart, you have one ditzy blond girlfriend! I did overhear a conversation between two men but I didn't recognize the voices. One asked Joker if he had the key. Joker only said it was safe, he never said where it was or that he even had it."
"Don't worry about it. Since you didn't recognize the voices, we can't use it in court" agent Rupp informed MJ.

"Now for what I can tell you, which isn't much since it is an ongoing investigation.
One, Jon did slip out of town before we had our dragnet in place.
Two, the FBI has the cards and money the Chief got from the glued cards along with the drugs found in the locker. Every thing is in a FBI evidence locker.

Third is bad news/good news. Bad news is that Scooby has been involved in two attacks causing injury. My supervisor and I have been talking to the animal control personnel assigned to the case. Normally you would take Scooby to the vet who would run a rabies test and if he's clean that's it. Unfortunately this happened during a federal investigation. The animal control personnel are standing firm on the required 10 day confinement.

Good news is, we were able to work a compromise. Scooby can stay here in your home if two conditions are met: (1) He is not to leave these premises for any reason except emergency, with a full report from the vet.(2) Some one must be with him at all times for observation, no excuses. This includes going outside to do his business, no exceptions.

If any of these conditions are not met, Scooby is to be surrendered immediately to animal control. I want you to be aware just how serious this case is. The Joker has been on the FBI most wanted list for five years, I've been on it for two years. We don't want anything to happen now and he goes free on a technicality."

Matt interrupted agent Rupp to say, "With what Shaggy and Scooby has done for MJ, they can stay here for as long as necessary."

"One other thing, MJ, Shaggy, my report will reflect what good work you did. I can't promise anything
but I will recommend that you two receive at least some of the reward for the capture of The Joker."

"MJ, Gennie, looks like we have two extra guests for the next ten days" Matt said, smiling.
"That's Ok dad, I think we can find something to fill those ten days" MJ said smiling, looking at Shaggy.

"I'll just bet!" was Matt's reply.

Part Two

After agent Rupp left, the four continued to sit at the table, talking about how best to handle the confinement of Scooby. They decided the best and easiest way was to work as teams with room for adjustments. Later that day, MJ and Gennie went shopping to pick up more Scooby Snacks.

When they returned, they found Matt and Shaggy playing basketball in the drive way.
"Boys will always be boys" Gennie remarked.
"No mom, Men will always be men. We went shopping, they play basketball, with the same result.
It relieves some of the tension every one has been under these past few days."

"Well, I think you have a keeper in Shaggy(where did he get that name anyway?).
"I know I have. I just wish he'd ask me."

Several days later, Matt and Gennie relieved MJ and Shaggy time to get away for awhile.
MJ had dressed in the new 'A' line, stone gray skirt with embellished silk, pink blouse with puffy arms, she and her mom had picked out during their shopping spree. They weren't doing anything special, just enjoying some time alone, walking hand in hand, along the shore. They returned several hours later to allow Matt and Gennie the evening to go out for a movie they had been wanting to see.

Later in the evening they settled in the den, with snacks and cold drinks.
"My package came yesterday, I left it in the bedroom, I'll be right back."
Several minutes passed before he returned. " I can't seem..."

MJ had kicked off her shoes, curled her legs underneath her, sitting back on her heels. She helt a package in her hands.
"I believe this is yours...Scooby had it hidden in the corner" she said, laughing. "Along with a supply of Scooby Snacks you wouldn't believe. It's going to take a week to clean it up." Shaggy sat down, taking the package and started to unwrap it.

"Shaggy, if that is what I think it is, I need to tell you something about me. First, I don't take a trip and get off half way. I ride it all the way to the end.
Second is ever since I was old enough to realize that boys weren't beasts , I also realized my good looks attracted attention I didn't like, so I started the ditzy blond routine. The boys ( and later, men) fell into two categories. One was the boys who was only interested in the ditzy blond. They didn't stay around too long.

The second was the ones like Jon, who felt that if they snapped their fingers, the ditzy blond should jump through their hoops. When they realized I wasn't going to jump through their hoops, they didn't stay around long either. On the plane and on Spooky Island, you met the ditzy blond. I thought anyone who would dress a dog up in a dress and call him "grandma" had to be someone interesting.

Do you realize the conflict going on inside me? You blew me out of the water! I didn't know what to do with you! You didn't fit in any category. You were the first who wanted to know me, the person behind the ditzy blond! I wanted to let you, but that thought scared me to death! At the restaurant I told you not to look at me--I couldn't handle all the love I saw in your eyes.

Lastly, during the past few days I've realized just how selfish I've been. I don't know what happened between you and Velma, or about the two year break up of the gang. I hereby release you of that promise that I said I'd hold you to. If you want to tell me some day, I'll listen, but it has to be because you want to, not because of some selfish promise."

Quietly, Shaggy unwrapped the package, removing the gold chain and pendant that lay inside.
She leaned forward, allowing him to put his hands around her neck, placing the hook in the clasp.
She looked at the pendant. It was his class ring from Coolsville High School. She ran her fingertips along the pipe cleaner that had been wrapped around the ring to protect it from the chain.

"It will have to do until I can get a proper ring" he said sheepishly.
"It will do just fine" she whispered, letting the ring slide inside her blouse until it came to rest between her breasts...next to her heart.

"Are we just going steady or is this a proposal?" she wanted to know.
"Yes, it is a proposal...I'm asking if you will go on a ride? A wild ride known as life with me?"

With one tear chasing another down her cheeks, MJ whispered,
"A wise man once told me that a kiss was worth a thousand words. This is my answer..."

THE END

Author notes: The rest of the story

Did Shaggy ever tell her about Velma and the two years of the break up? I'd like to think so. Perhaps one night in the quiet hours, while whispering in the dark, he would tell her at least some of what happened during those missing years.

MJ did go on that ride called life with Shaggy...all the way to the end. She carried his class ring where she had placed it that night, taking it off only occasionally to replace the pipe cleaner as needed to protect the ring.
When Shaggy did give her that "proper ring", she would tell him, "When you gave me your class ring, you asked me to go on a ride...that ride isn't over yet!"

Being a wise man, he didn't ask again.