"I'm not sure that he should be around that girl," Stacy whispered to Sam as they ate cold Chinese for dinner in the hospital cafeteria a few weeks later.

"And why not?" Sam asked seriously in between bites of orange chicken.

"She's sick and so strange and just not right for Norville"

"Since when do you meddle in our son's romantic life?"

"Compared to the other girls-"

"You mean the toxic blondes who flash their father's money and try to mold our son into something he isn't?"

Stacy fell quiet indicating that the conversation was over. Sam returned to his food with a frown. This didn't bode well.

...

Christina typed away, propped up by a mountain of pillows with her quit spread over her legs she grits her teeth together trying to focus more on the unfinished essay than the pain in her legs. Her father had gone to lunch with her mother after much pleading on her part. It became uncomfortable to weather her mother's barely concealed worried looks and her father's frown. They weren't good at hiding their emotions not when it came to her sickness which was up and down as ever. Amidst the medications, therapy, and schoolwork there was one bright spot in her monotonous days.

"Knock, knock"

"Hi, Shaggy," Christina greeted with a smile, "Come in, I could use a break from schoolwork"

"Your hair's down," Shaggy observed, hobbling in on crutches and sitting in his usual place beside Christina.

"Oh, yeah," Christina twirled a lock around her finger with a shrug, "I had a shower early and just haven't re-braided it yet"

"You look really pretty with it down"

"Thank you, how are you feeling today?"

"Good, and you?"

'Could be better

"Is there anything I can do to help?"

"Just keep me company"

"Like, what were you working on?"

"An Essay for English," Christina hit save and shut down her laptop, "I need a break"

"Like, no therapy today? I didn't see you earlier"

"No, not today, how did yours go?"

"Like, the doctors say I'm doing well but I still like, feel off balance sometimes"

"I don't remeber what being off balance feels like"

Christina's physical therapy was different from Shaggy's. While he was already walking again she was still trying to stand for more than three seconds, the doctors helping stretch out her legs as she tried to wiggle her toes or move her feet. It was a painfully emotionally draining process that left her near tears. So, Vivika had shuffled things around so Shaggy had his therapy simultaneously. The duo cheered each other on and hung out after their dismissal, escaping outdoors to chat quietly, swapping stories until Christina fell asleep.

"You'll get there," Shaggy smiled, setting Christina's laptop in its case and grabbing her hands, "Like, you're doing really, really well"

"I don't think so"

Rather than get stuck in a loop gently arguing with Christina, Shaggy decided to drop it, "Do you want to watch TV?" he indicated the antiquated set mounted near the ceiling.

"Food Network?" she grabbed the remote.

"That's like, up to you"

"Eh, I don't really care," the TV came on with a slow whine, Disney Channel filling the screen, "They were showing High School Musical this morning"

"You don't have to explain yourself to me"

"My cousin said I was embarresing"

"Draculaura?"

"No, Faybelle"

"She really doesn't like you, does she?"

"Nope"

"Her loss"

"Aw, you're sweet"

The two fell quiet caught up in reruns of Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives. Christina was more impressed by the number of restaurants Shaggy had been to than Guy's opinion of them. It was fun to keep track of how many times Shaggy said he'd been there. Slowly, Christina forgot the pain in her legs, sinking comfortably into her pillows throughout many episodes. It was hard to explain and it must have been all in her head but she felt so much better around Shaggy. As if her pain disappeared completely.

...

"Norville-"

"Shh," Shaggy held a finger to his lips, "She's sleeping, Mom"

Stacy's eyes drifted to where Shaggy held Christina's hand, "You should be resting sweetie"

"I'm okay here"

"You can rest better in your room-"

"No, I'll stay with Christina"

"But she's sleeping"

"I like, want to be here when she wakes up, she's like, been letting me sit in on her school lessons, they're interesting"

Shaggy had yet to be enrolled in school since waking. Even though he didn't particularly like school he did like learning with Christina. Besides, he'd end up at Monster High eventually. This could be a head start. A safe way to learn about the school and its faculty without embarrassing himself. He couldn't wait to start school with Christina. He could just imagine studying together, walking her to class, and laughing together over lunch. Would they share after-school activities? Would there be field trips where they could sneak off to explore on their own?

For now, he would stay by her side here. In this white unwelcoming space. Cheering her on throughout therapy. Distracting her from the pain so clear in her eyes. Regaling her with stories of far-off mysteries and monsters close to home. Even though the gang hadn't been to visit him yet he was sure they would and would love Christina just not as much as he did. No one could love Christina as much as he did. Even if he didn't want to admit it.

Stacy held in a grimace. But you're going to a private school. She had sent the enrollment papers that morning to the very best werewolf-only school she could find. Confident that her son would fare much better there. Away from Christina who unsettled her so badly, so scarred and sickly. Unknown to Sam Stacy had been pushing for Shaggy to be released. He was healing so much faster, rebuilding his strength at an impressive speed. He would do so much better at home with an in-home therapist to help him, without Christina to distract him or worse, infect him with her sickness. Even now, she looked at death's door and could very likely drag Shaggy there with her.

How could they be fated whatever when Christina was so far below Shaggy? She wasn't even a pure-blooded monster. Shaggy at least was related to the ruler of werewolves. What was Christina but a mismatched mix-up? Who cared if Shaggy would be angry with her? Once he got to his new school he could find a nice, healthy girl to date and Christina would be all but forgotten in a matter of days.

Then everything would be so much better.

...

Me thinks Stacy's in for a rude awakening. What about you? Review!