MJ gripped the cold metal bars and pulled herself on top of the van. Balancing on the second rung down, she spread the quilt that she'd draped over her shoulder, across the top of the van. Inside, she could hear the gang quietly bickering before the door opened again. MJ clambered over the top bar and plopped down in the center of the blanket.
The van shook as the gang clambered on top with her. Shaggy's hand squeezed hers as he settled down on her left while Daphne's arm hooked around her as she did the same on her right. She could feel the warmth of Velma and Fred's hands as they settled behind her, both quite capable of seeing over her head. The problem with being the shortest. MJ could hear Scooby's breath somewhere on her right, likely on the other side of Daphne.
"Like, waiting for the fireworks?" Shaggy asked softly, pressing a bottle of beer into her hand. Champagne was their usual but Daphne's argument with her parents had left her reluctant to borrow their money.
"It's twenty minutes till the New Year," MJ grinned, squeezing his hand and leaning over to peck his cheek, even if she couldn't properly see in the dark. Rather than his cheek, she got the corner of his lip, not that it bothered either young adult.
Without a word, Daphne pressed a bowl into MJ's other hand and, after settling the beer and bowl between her legs, she discovered it was a fruit bowl.
"Thanks, Daphne," MJ breathed, giving her girlfriend a quick peck.
"Don't mention it, darling," Daphne murmured, laying her head down on MJ's shoulder, despite being four inches taller. Then the area brightened and a quick glance over her shoulder revealed that Velma had set up a few LED lights. MJ shot her a bright smile, all that was needed for the younger girl to know she appreciated it.
Silence surrounded the five witches and familiar before soft music filled the air. A quick glance behind her revealed Fred to be the culprit, the radio sitting next to him. A peaceful grin flitted across MJ's face as she cuddled up with her girlfriends and boyfriends atop their van in the cool Florida winter air, waiting on a hill miles from the town for the fireworks to erupt.
"Do you think they know?" Shaggy suddenly asked, grinning as he gained the rest of the gang's attention, "Like, we were just a bunch of kids that, like, came into town and got rid of a spirit. Do you think they, like, realize we weren't human? Or that we're, like, up here?"
"Not human?" Fred pondered, "Definitely. We don't exactly act like the average teenagers, Shag. I mean, look at us." Fred gestured around him vaguely and MJ understood. From Fred's button down tucked into blue jeans, Velma's pristine pantsuit, Daphne's designer blouse, Shaggy's bell bottoms, and her own old leather jacket, their styles were all slightly outdated. No crop tops or short shorts or hideous tennis shoes. Like Fred said, not exactly what the average teenager wears.
"Like, you've got a point," Shaggy laughed, brushing his bangs out of his eyes.
"As for the other thing," Velma added, adjusting herself so that her head lay in MJ's lap through the small gap between Shaggy and the small girl, "I doubt they realize we're up here. Too invested in their own mortal lives." A slight grimace flashed across Velma's face as if she couldn't imagine anything worse than being mortal.
"Don't you think it's weird?" Daphne asked without opening her eyes, "Their lives are so short and we'll live to be hundreds of years old."
"Perk of being able to do magic, Daph," MJ shrugged, the words falling from her lips nothing but fact. Magic was able to do a lot of things, like slowing down the aging of its host's body.
"Still, it's sad," Daphne's lips curled down, "Some of our parents will die before we leave our twenties." MJ shot a look at Daphne, noticing the sad tilt the redhead's features had taken on. She turned her head to the side and pressed a kiss to the girl's forehead.
"Think of it this way, Daph," MJ murmured, "Our lives are so long that we'll get to see everything we desire. Make friends with anyone we want and banish the evil that dares rear it's head. We get to be heroes because we live so long. Isn't what we have to give up so small in comparison?"
"I suppose," Daphne fell silent as she snuggled her head deeper into MJ's shoulder.
"Evening folks!" the radio crackled, interrupting the steading stream of music that had been playing, "It's the final seconds before the New Year and we invite you to raise a glass in-"
"Ren!" Scooby howled as the gang burst out in laughter.
"Eight," Shaggy continued after he managed to stop laughing.
"Seven," Velma grinned up at MJ.
"Six," Daphne whispered, the crackling radio able to be heard over her soft voice.
"Five," Fred practically shouted, causing Daphne and MJ to jolt and hit him, missing the next number that the announcer didn't.
"Three," MJ finally said, stretching back to lean against Fred.
"Two," the six said together, "One. Happy New Years!" All five mages cracked open their beers and took a swig as shades of red, blue, white, and gold lit up the sky.
"To a new wondrous year!" MJ grinned.
"Filled with love," Daphne chimed in.
"Riendship," Scooby plopped his head on Daphne's stomach, causing a sharp breath to leave her.
"Magic," Velma grinned.
"Peace," Shaggy retorted, "Please, let there be peace."
"But above all, us. Let us be together from start to finish," Fred whispered.
"I can say amen to that," MJ whispered with the others humming their agreement. Wrapped in a position that shouldn't have been comfortable, the gang watched the fireworks flash across the sky in a tentative peace that they were all thankful for.