Their First Christmas

Disclaimer: Scooby Doo and all related characters are owned by Hanna-Barbera, Warner Bros.,and Cartoon Network. All other characters, names, places, and incidents are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, events, places, and incidents is coincidental.

My thanks to Jazzola for her Beta work although any errors are mine. Colby Marie, Cody and Cooper are real people.

Chapter One: The Arrival

Part One: On the Plane

The night had been short with little sleep; it would be dawn soon. He had been able to catch a few hours sleep although cat-naps would be more precise. It had been three weeks since he had told that Thanksgiving story of MacBaggy Rogers. Three weeks and four days to be precise. That was twice in as many thoughts that he had corrected himself. Shaggy smiled, that warm smile that Vel said reached from heart to lips.

Vel...Velma. Three weeks and four days since they had announced they were a dating couple. His smile widened if that were possible. Since their announcement he had changed, thinking in more precise terms. He guessed love did that to a man.

Velma. He stole a glance at the petite brunette sitting beside him on the plane. Imagine, the girl he'd had feelings for actually returned those same feelings. Would miracles never cease? It had been a hectic three weeks (and four days, just to be precise); packing, phone calls to be made and above all getting permission for Scooby to accompany them; it had been impossible to comply with the Scottish Pet Travel Scheme and quarantine requirements. After several facsimiles flying back and forth then being told it was okay for Scooby to go only if he did not leave Scotland once entering the country.

Velma. He used a fingernail to draw a heart on her exposed leg just above the knee; he added an"I" before and an "U" after the heart.
"I love you too. Don't distract me," she didn't bother to look at him. "I'm concentrating."

Same fingernail, same location, different message: "URAQT".
"That got my attention," Velma shut the laptop down, closing the lid with a smile, "you've convinced me I'm a cutie. Thank you." The verbal thank you came with a physical thank you in the form of a light kiss.

"I just had a question." they were flying Club Class; not as expensive as first class but it did offer enough room for his six foot frame. The stewardess was coming down the aisle with a drink trolly, "want something to drink?"

"You didn't break my concentration to ask if I wanted a drink...what's really on your mind?"
"You," he said truthfully and was rewarded when her face lit up.
"Besides me. Something has been bothering you since Thanksgiving. Daphne?"
That was something Shaggy was still getting used to...having a good friend as a girlfriend. Velma could read him like a book. "Yeah, has she said anything to you?"

"No, not a word." She sounded hurt that her long time confidant hadn't bothered to say anything to her.

Daphne Blake, long time friend, fellow conspirator, confidant had disappeared the day after the Thanksgiving dinner, returning to catch this flight to Scotland. She had said nothing about where she had been and no one wanted to push the issue.

"Maybe this trip will give them time to sort out things." He sighed; he didn't like to see his friends so distant with each other. It brought back too many unpleasant memories. "Why don't you try to nap?" Her lips against his was like kissing a rosebud. "I'll wake you."

With Shaggy no longer a distraction, Velma opened the laptop, bringing the small screen to life. She selected a key and entered it; immediately the screen was filled with a circular pattern of runes. "The key is here somewhere, but where are you?" She challenged the runes to personal combat. Selecting a different key, she entered it and the little computer whirred and began the search for the key.

The key Velma vainly searched for anxiously awaited their arrival in Scotland.

-Xxxxxx

Part Two: Scotland

Colby Marie was mad! The last thing she wanted to do today was muck out stalls! She looked forward to meeting her cousin from America; he would be arriving with his friends later today and her parents, Lady and Laird MacRogers, had announced a small party tonight to welcome their guests from America. And here she was, mucking out the stalls...how were you supposed to make a good impression if you smelled of horse manure?

It was only mid morning but it had been a busy day already. Colby Marie had risen early to accomplish her indoor chores, helping her mother with breakfast for her older brothers and father. Kodiac, the older of her two brothers, left early to shepherd the clan sheep while Cooper would be helping their father with the day's preparation for the evening party. Thus the mucking chore fell to Colby Marie.

The horse nickered when the curry comb pulled her mane, "Sorry, Fol-ta. You know I wouldn't hurt you." she spoke to the horse, rubbing the mare's neck, "come on, I've got some fresh hay for ye." She hung the curry comb on a nail, she needed no bridle; the horse followed Colby Marie to the freshly mucked stall.

"You need to shower and then make sure that the guest rooms are ready for our guests," called her mother as Colby Marie removed her boots. "Yes Mother," she answered, walking upstairs in her stocking-covered feet. Freshly showered, Colby went about getting dressed in more comfortable clothes. At thirteen years of age, the baby fat had disappeared, leaving her slim with a hint of blossoming womanhood. She hoped, not for the first time, that she would be as beautiful as her mother.

The letter from her American cousin had arrived several weeks before, asking permission for a Christmas visit. Only two rooms had been requested, one for the men, one for the women. The castle had lots of room and each would have their private room with a connecting bath. Colby entered each room, already knowing everything was in order; hadn't she checked and rechecked several times? Satisfied, Colby headed downstairs to help her mother.

"They're here!" Colby yelled excitedly later when she heard the whistle of the water taxi.
"Go on with ya," her mother laughed, shooing her daughter out of the kitchen. "And don't yell, it's not ladylike."

Colby stopped when she saw the four people and a dog get off the taxi. The men were cute; she recognized her cousin by the description given in the letter. He was the tallest and the family resemblance couldn't be missed. The men weren't the reason for Colby to stop, it was the women.
It wasn't that they were pretty, even beautiful; it was the way they moved, their self confidence was obvious even from this distance. They had an aura about them that said they were comfortable with who they were.

At that moment, Cooper ran by, deliberately jostling her shoulder, "come on, Col, get a move on," he yelled back. On any other day she would be annoyed and run after him; today she straightened her spine, and walked, slowly down the dock to the gathered group.

"Welcome to Castle MacRogers," Colby announced. "My brother, Cooper, will help with your bags." Cooper was picking up the red head's bags; the blond man seemed to be perturbed by this but hid it well.

The sound of a piper was heard and everyone turned in the direction of the sound. "What was that?" The red head asked, nervously. "Oh, that? That is just "the Lone Piper", he always pipes a tune to announce a wedding, a storm, or a party," Colby informed them.

"I vote for a party! This is Fred, Daphne, Velma and Scooby Doo." her cousin pointed to each friend in turn.

"And you must be Norville, my cousin."
"Please, call me Shaggy, everyone does. And you are?"

"The name is Colby Marie Corrine Khaos MacRogers, but you can call me Colby...if I like ya."

TBC