Christina quietly watched the outside roll by. Turned towards the window in a vain attempt to hide the quiet tears still trickling down her cheeks. Please be safe, please, please be safe. She could only imagine what horrible things Regina might do once she realized her plan had failed.
I have to be strong.
But, how could she be when all she could do was cry?
"Christina"
"I'm sorry," she wiped desperately at her tears, "I must be terrible company"
"No," Shaggy smiled reassuringly, "Like, it's perfectly okay to cry, you must be very close with your father"
"Yes," Christina nodded, "After. After Mother passed Daddy couldn't bear to get out of bed, Oh, I remember the staff telling me he wanted to be left alone and I did leave him alone for a day but I was restless so I snuck in at the first chance. We didn't talk but I hugged him very tightly I promised myself I would never leave him alone after that and I didn't" She was starting to smile, "He started to teach me everything he could, how to take care of the flowers, how to read, everything even though it was frowned upon"
"Why would it be?"
"Things are better where my Uncle lives but in our villige the moment a child is born they're passed to a wet nurse, raised by a nanny and taught by a governess most children are lucky to see their parents for ten minutes let alone all day. Mother scoffed at the idea and made Daddy promise to never, never do that, he kept his promise"
Her tears had dried but she still felt like she could crack all over again and they were in for a long journey. She certainly didn't want to spend it in tears.
I have to be strong, I promised I would.
"What was it like growing up?"
"I suppose you want me to start from the begining?"
"If you feel like it, I like, don't want you to feel forced to talk with me"
"No, it's okay, it will be a good way to pass the time"
"If you're certain"
"I am," Christina nodded, "My earliest memories are of my mother..."
...
As the trip wore on they talked endlessly about their childhoods, their parents, their schooling, and what lessons they loved or despied. Things that Shaggy hadn't had a chance to discuss before. It was an immense relief to have an actual conversation without the use of titles. Something he'd become all too accustomed to in the past year before the illness set in. Now, getting to know the girl who consumed his dreams was a great joy.
"Not one vord"
But, he still couldn't tell her why he'd come in the first place. The excuse given was true enough, extending the proverbial olive branch at a time when vampire and werewolf relationships were strained at the best. She didn't press for further details for which he was grateful. Now it was just after midnight as they finally crossed the border into the Crystal Cove Kingdom. Soon enough he'd be back in his bed, in his room. He turned away from the window.
Christina slept soundly across from him, her cloak gathered behind her head for a pillow. For the sake of propriety, much to the guard's chagrin, he had spent their return trip sleeping under the stars or in a small tent as there were no boarding houses nearby and if there were they likely wouldn't allow them refuge but because they were so close now he stayed within the carriage only a few hours more so Shaggy allowed himself to doze off.
Home.
...
Christina woke with a stretch, sleepily she sat up finding herself in a large room, in a bed she didn't recall climbing into. She could just barely recall someone talking to her but that was all. Rubbing furiously at her eyes she was confused to find the room so dark. The drapes are closed, she realized. With another yawn she stood, hardly surprised to find herself in a night dress, Padding across the floor she grasped the drapes and yanked them open
"Sunlight!" she squealed with a twirl. It was so warm and bright and magical, the light spilling into the room, "The colors!"
"Oh, you're awake, forgive me"
Christina spun from the window with a yelp finding a gray-furred werewolf in a maid's uniform, "Hello"
"My name's Elise," the werewolf curtsied, "We met last night but you were awfully tired, I hope you slept well?"
"Yes, thank you"
"I've been assinged as your ladies maid," Elise kindly explained, "Whatever you need. Shall I draw you a bath? It would no doubt be relaxing after such a long journey"
"Yes please, thank you, Elise"
"Of course, Milady," the werewolf nodded before scurrying off to the adjoining bathroom.
Christina went back to spinning in the sunlight.
...
"SHAGGY!"
Shaggy barely had time to brace himself before Sugie barreled into him at full force knocking him back a few steps.
"I missed you too," he wrapped his arms around the bubbly twelve-year-old, "I like, trust you were on your best behavior while I was gone?"
"Maybe, maybe not"
Where Shaggy was a half-werewolf, changing only under the full moon and in extreme cases of emotion, Sugie with her bright red hair and green-blue eyes took after their mother in every way including humanness but she, like her mother before her, was adored by the people.
"Sugie," he rolled his eyes good-naturedly, "Like, what am I going to do?"
"Let me meet your soulmate?"
"Sugie-"
"She's here right? Is she as pretty as the pictures? What's her favorite color? Is she nice? What's her name? Have you kissed her yet?"
"Sugie! Slow down, I need to like, explain something to you"
"What's wrong?"
Shaggy pulled her over to the table, "Yes, she's here, her name is Christina BUT she does not and CANNOT know we're soulmates she was like, in danger, some very wicked people were trying to harm her so her father, like, sent her here for her safety"
"But, she's your soulmate-"
"She can't know that-"
"Why?"
"Sugie just, PROMISE me you like, won't tell her"
"I promise, can I still meet her?"
"Yes, she'll like, be staying for a while"
"Is she joining us for breakfast?"
"If she feels like it, she's like, very shy and quiet"
No sooner had he finished that statement did Christina glide into the room looking refreshed but no less nervous, her shaking hands uselessly hidden in the pockets of her berry-colored gown.
"Good morning, Christina, I like, hope you slept well?"
"Very thank you,"
"I'm glad to hear it, may I like, introduce my younger sister-"
"HI, my name is Sugie!" Before Shaggy could stop her Sugie threw her arms around Christina excitedly, "It's very nice to meet you, Lady Christina!"
Oh no, oh no, oh no. Not good, What if she freezes? What if-
But, much to Shaggy's astonishment Christina smiled after a few moments returning the hug, "It's very nice to meet you as well, Sugie"
"You're really, really pretty"
"Thank you, you're pretty too"
"Shall we sit?" Shaggy motioned to the table, desperate to redirect before Sugie did something to make Christina uncomfortable, Without their parents to rein her in he wasn't sure what to do. He rushed to pull Christina's chair out for her hoping Sugie would get the hint and let go.
"Thank you," Christina smiled bashfully, settling into her chair.
Sugie meanwhile, hopped into the chair next to Christina.
Just as Shaggy pushed Christina in, a brown and black blur streaked into the room, exclaiming, "RAGGY, RAGGY, RAGGY, YOU'RE BACK," knocking Shaggy flat on his back.
"Hi, Scoob," Shaggy laughed, pushing the excited Dane off of him, "I like, missed you too"
Scooby remained right in front of him tail, smacking the ground with such force it was a wonder it didn't cause injury. Slowly, Shaggy got to his feet, dusted himself off, and returned to his seat at the table, Scooby following. Only then did the Great Dane notice their guest. Shaggy froze, he hadn't told Scooby about the secret. Was his best friend about to unknowingly break the one rule they'd been given? Would he react negatively? Scooby plodded over to where Christina sat, sniffing at her curiously.
"Hello." she greeted with a small amused smile.
"Scooby this is Lady Christina she's like, going to be staying with us for a while"
Please don't tell her. Please, please don't.
But, his worries were for nothing. Scooby sat back on his haunches letting Christina scratch his favorite spot just behind his ears.
"Now you've done it," Sugie giggled, "He'll never leave you alone"
"I don't mind," Christina replied.
Breakfast was shortly served, the conversation dominated by Sugie who couldn't resist asking Christina all kinds of questions. Shaggy briefly worried it would overwhelm Christina but she took it all in stride. Even when Sugie proudly declared she would show Christina around.
"I'd like that very much"
"GREAT"
"Sugie, volume"
"Sorry, I'm just excited"
Christina giggled in amusement, "I'm excited too"
"Really?!"
"Yes"
As breakfast came to an end, Sugie excused herself to clean up. Only then did Shaggy finally, truly relax, "I like, hope she didn't tire you out?"
"No, not at all"
"If she ever does, just like, let me know"
"Alright"
...
A short time later, Sugie was happily dragging Christina all over the castle and the grounds surrounding it. Eager to show off her home while asking dozens of questions. The twelve-year-old's energy was infectious and welcoming in a way Christina couldn't quite place.
"And this," Sugie smiled with a grand flourish, "Is the garden!"
"Oh, my..." Christina gasped in surprise, "I've never seen flowers in sunlight before"
"Is it hard living in the dark all the time?" Sugie asked, clamping a hand over her mouth, "I didn't mean-"
"It's okay, It's not hard when it's all you've ever known, the stars are always big and bright and very close but I've always wanted to see the sunlight"
"You like flowers?"
"Very much"
"these are my favorite," Sugie pointed to the purple heather, "Do you have a favorite?"
"Roses, they were my mother's favorite too"
"Were?"
"She passed when I was a child..so did my brother...he'd be right around your age now"
Sugie hugged her tightly, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to upset you"
"You haven't," Christina dabbed at her eyes, "Do you want to show me the rest of the flowers?"
"This way!"