The drive was quiet. Shaggy drove as Velma and Daphne sat in the passenger's side. It took about thirty minutes before they reached the parking lot of the chapel.

It was a small brick building; candlelight could be seen flickering through the stained-glass windows. Snow now covered most of the ground. Various sized footprints of other funeral goers were imprinted in the white snow, leading to the chapel's entrance. Fred was well known and loved in Coolsville; there was a crowd waiting in line to enter the building.

Shaggy turned off the van. They sat there in silence, watching as the windshield wipers halted, allowing specks of snow to cover the dash.

After what felt like forever, Shaggy was the first to speak. He looked over to Velma and Daphne. Their eyes were red with tears. "Ready?"

"Ready."

As they entered the chapel lobby, a wave of sadness overcame them. There were posters of Fred along the walls, of the gang all together. They couldn't bear to look at them.

Vibrant flowers were scattered across the room, creating a stark contrast of color to the sea of people in black.

"Fred wouldn't have wanted this," Velma whispered. "It doesn't feel like Fred."

Shaggy nodded, looking around the room. On his left he saw Fred's parents sobbing as they spoke to a person unknown to Shaggy. On his right, a group of college-aged girls were speaking softly in hushed whispers. Shaggy realized that Fred never knew any of them. But Fred was a magnet for drawing admiration from various women, even if he didn't try to. But they were there just like the rest of them; to pay their respects for the man everyone loved.

"I'm so, so sorry, Mystery Inc.," Mayor William Smythe swiftly came towards them, catching Shaggy off guard. "Dear Fred will be missed."

Shaggy felt Velma shift next to him. He knew Velma hated Mayor Smythe. He always berated them. He never thanked them for doing what the police should have been doing all along – catching monsters. The police didn't have any information on who killed Fred – the monster was still wearing a mask when it happened. He got away.

"I would like to offer my condolences. Please accept my –

"Like you care!" Velma was already dragging Shaggy and Daphne away from Smythe.

"Like, Velma, stop!" Shaggy hissed, wrenching his arm from Velma's grasp as they reached a corner of the room.

"Don't you see that's what he does? He was trying to get us on his good side! After everything that bastard's put us through –

"Velma!" Daphne cried. "Stop! Please! You're – You're making a scene!"

Velma realized this and quickly calmed down. "I'm sorry, I just –

Before she could finish, Mr. and Mrs. Jones appeared. Mrs. Jones put a hand on Daphne's shoulder.

"Thank you," she said, looking from Daphne to Velma, "for being Fred's best friends. I don't know where he would have been without you."

Shaggy felt a lump form in his throat. His chest tightened. The gang would never be the same again. It would never be whole again.

He swallowed hard, struggling to find the right words.

"We – We had great times with him," he managed to croak. "But we miss him . . . I'm so sorry . . . Like, I just hope they find . . . you know . . ."

Fred's parents looked at him with understanding and appreciation, their eyes twinkling with unshed tears. Mrs. Jones nodded swiftly, letting her hand linger on Daphne's shoulder for a short moment longer. She then grabbed her husband's arm, and they disappeared into the crowd as quickly as they had come.

After a moment, there was an announcement over the lobby intercom for the viewing to begin.

Shaggy grabbed Velma's hand and then reached for Daphne's. This was the only way he felt they could be kept together. "Come on," he managed to whisper as he guided them to the entrance of the chapel.

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

The oak-brown casket sat in front of the room. A large portrait of Fred with a wreath of flowers stood next to it.

Shaggy looked down to see Daphne crying fresh tears. He squeezed her hand tighter. Velma was also shedding tears, failing to hold them back. They knew they would see Fred for the last time.

"You don't have to if you don't want to," Shaggy said to Daphne. "It might be better if –

"No." Daphne shook her head. "I need to do this."

"Are you sure?" Velma whispered.

"Yes."

The three of them slowly walked down the aisle to the casket. Shaggy almost wanted to turn back and run. Run like the many times he did during their mysteries. But he couldn't. Not this time. For Daphne and Velma.

Then, they saw him. Fred.

He was dressed in a light blue suit, a crisp look that he'd had during life. His face looked peaceful, but not exactly like Fred. Shaggy felt himself start to shake. The bullet wound to his face was gone.

Velma was looking down, tears streaking her face. Small whimpers escaped her. She missed Fred and his trap inventions. His laugh. His way of knowing what to do in the right moment. Velma felt herself shaking violently. She didn't know how to stop.

But Daphne. Daphne stood completely still. She looked down at Fred. The one she loved. She never told him she loved him. And now she would never get the chance.

She heard the slightest murmur from the people behind her, waiting to see her dead friend's body. She could smell something . . . off about Fred. Was it in her head? She could feel the presence of Shaggy next to her. She felt so small. Incapable. She felt her breathing grow faster. Shallower. She didn't know what was happening. What was happening? Then, she remembered seeing Fred that night. The gunshot. Fred was covered in –

Then Daphne found herself running to the nearest restroom.

Velma rushed after her as she told Shaggy to stay put.

Shaggy felt a pang in his heart. For Daphne. He looked down at Fred for the last time before running after Velma, pushing through the crowd.

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

"Fred was a wonderful son, a friend, and a young man with a bright future . . .

The speeches were now going over the speakers in the lobby.

The lobby was empty and silent other than the retches and sobs coming from behind the restroom door.

"Daphne . . ." Velma was about to ask if Daphne was okay. But she knew she wasn't. Nowhere close.

Shaggy finally caught up to Velma.

"Is she –

"Yeah," Velma whispered as the terrible sounds of Daphne retching continued to fill the silence.

Shaggy didn't know what to say. All he did was slide down against the restroom door, drawing his legs up to his chest, his head buried in his hands. Velma followed suit, sitting next to him.

After a period of silence, Velma caught Shaggy's eyes. Tears were falling from his long nose.

"Shag . . ." she whispered.

"I – I don't know how we're gonna get through this, Velma," he said through his hands. "Like, I really don't . . . And it's not just Fred's death . . . I mean, we saw him get shot. We don't know who did it, and Daphne was covered in his . . ." Shaggy couldn't finish.

Velma winced. She too remembered the blood. The screams.

"I know . . ." Velma put a hand to his shoulder. "But we have to be there for Daphne . . . it's going to take time. . . but - but I'm sure we'll get there . . . like we always do. What we've always done. And we'll find the guy who did this. I know we will."

Shaggy nodded slowly, meeting Velma's gaze. He wasn't sure whether to believe her or not. All they were focusing on now was that Fred was gone. No mystery solving could fix what had happened.

After a moment, the bathroom door creaked open, revealing Daphne. Her hair was messy, and her makeup was smeared from crying. She looked from Velma to Shaggy, tears streaking her face.

"Daphne . . .?" Shaggy's voice cracked as he stood up.

Daphne stood there. She had her arms across her chest, her whole body shaking. She wasn't sure what to do; stay in place or come towards her friends.

"I – I'm sorry," was all she managed to say.

"What possibly for?" Velma said, searching Daphne's eyes.

"Fred . . . he did it for me . . . it should've been me . . ."

"Don't," Velma asserted, placing her hand on Daphne's arm. "He did it for all of us. He was a hero. We need to remember him as such. Always."

"He wouldn't want you to blame yourself," Shaggy added. "He loved you, Daphne . . . You were everything to him."

Daphne let out a sob at those words. A sob that she had been holding in for such a long time. Shaggy immediately wrapped her in a hug, his heart aching as her tears soaked through his jacket.

Velma couldn't help it. Her heart hurt. For Daphne. For Shaggy. For Fred. She felt the sobs escape her. Shaggy pulled her into the hug without a word.

They didn't know what to do. How they would get through. All they knew was it was just them, and nobody else.