Two weeks later and the gang were leaving for Ohio.

Fred heaved the last suitcase into the back of the Mystery Machine and leaned against the cool metal of the door. Daphne slipped her hand into his and they stood there for a minute before getting into the van.

Velma glanced back towards the building. The trailers next to it gleamed in the sun, and the building itself was bright and cheery-looking with its red brick illuminated to a gorgeous colour. The various vehicles parked outside were shimmering slightly, and she caught herself thinking about air particles vibrating and causing the shimmer.

Stop it! she thought, grinning, and forced herself to think about Nicholas Richman instead.

The young man had been sentenced to five years in prison for trying to disrupt the film and, as Velma had predicted, one count of malicious assault. Alex hadn't gone to the hearing, making the excuse that his filming schedule wouldn't allow it, but Velma knew that he'd simply been staying in his trailer. He was still a little in shock about the whole thing, especially the part where Nicholas had tried to hurt Jasmine and had very nearly succeeded in badly injuring her. Alex was still fuming over the incident, and showed no sign of forgiving his brother yet.

Inferi Beach was due for release in cinemas in a few weeks, and the members of the gang (even Scooby) each had a complimentary copy on DVD, signed by Jasmine French and Alex Richman. They had insisted on it, since if it hadn't been for the gang, there was a good chance that the film wouldn't have been made.

Jasmine also added, grinning, that the DVDs were pre-set to show a certain scene first.

The young actress herself suddenly appeared as the gang were about to set off, wearing denim shorts and a crop-top which showed a slither of flat tanned stomach.

"Guys, guys! Before you go…"

She had a twinkle in her eye, and Velma glanced at Daphne, who was beaming at Jasmine. Fred winked at the actress (Daphne's smile faltered and she moved sideways to tread on Fred's foot again, only gently this time) and she walked forwards and took Velma by the arm.

"You know what day it is, don't you, Velma?"

"Uh…"

Jasmine laughed and pulled down the canvas side of the lorry next to the Mystery Machine. Inside were most of the crew, including Alex, Mr Ridley (wearing the hippy bandana from his private room and looking very charming) and Chuck, who had put on clean-ish jeans and a checked shirt with only a small oil stain on it.

Above them was a banner saying: HAPPY BIRTHDAY, VELMA DINKLEY!

Velma's cheeks flushed bright red, but her mouth, ignoring the stern commands from her brain, curved into a huge smile.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DEAR VELMA, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!"

Jasmine gave Velma a huge hug as the crew cheered and threw confetti over the young girl.

"We figured that, since you helped us with the mystery and saved Inferi Beach from being abandoned, the least we could do was give you a very special birthday party before you left! Your friends had the idea, and then I persuaded everyone else to set it up."

Velma's smile increased and she hugged Jasmine back, then Jasmine released her and she ran into a group hug with the gang.

"Aww… guys…"

"What, don't we get a hug, Velma?" teased Chuck.

Velma glared at him, but her smile gave her away. Chuck leapt out of the lorry and picked Velma up easily, laughing.

"You're just a little pipsqueak!" he laughed. Velma tried to look annoyed, but her mouth was still stubbornly ignoring her brain and was still curved into a huge beam worthy of a Cheshire cat.

Eventually, the large man put her down and various members of the crew walked forwards to shake her hand and wish her a happy birthday. The girls Jasmine was friends with threw a little more confetti over her (and themselves, and anybody else who was close by) and a birthday buffet was served behind the lorry.

Eventually, stuffed with food and with what was left of the huge birthday cake in the back of the Mystery Machine, the gang left the car park to waves and cheers from the entire crew and headed onto the freeway, starting the four-hour trip back to Ohio.

Daphne reached over as they went through the arch proclaiming the entrance to the Monstrous Movies set and picked a flake of yellow confetti out of Fred's hair.

"It's yellow; I guess it blended in perfectly!" Velma grinned. Daphne pushed up a little section of Fred's fringe to check the cut, which was unfortunately still there, as he flipped the indicator on.

"Daphne," Fred complained, pulling away. "Quit fussing!"

Then his eyes wandered to the rear-view mirror, and he grinned.

"Were you planning on having any more of that birthday cake, Velma?"

"Yeah, once we got back home," Velma replied, confused. "Why?"

"Ask the guys."

"Shaggy… Scooby…"

Two loud burps were issued from the back of the van.

"Like, that was good, right, Scoob?"

"Reah! Rirthray rake!"

"BIRTHDAY CAKE?!"

Velma glared at them, but slowly her glare turned to a smile, which turned to a giggle, which turned to a laugh. Soon the whole gang was laughing with her as Shaggy and Scooby grinned sheepishly.

"Like, sorry, Velms…"

Velma leaned back and pinched Shaggy lightly on the arm.

"Next time we go to a movie set, save the film from a fake ghost, and have a massive party for my birthday just prior to leaving, remind me to hide the cake somewhere other than the back of the van with the chewsome twosome!"

The gang laughed again and Scooby grinned.

"Rooby-rooby-roo!"

THE END