Shaggy helped Velma up the stairs and into the store. All the way up the stairs and either side of the aisles stood people, some she knew, most she didn't but all were in some form of fantasy or science-fiction costume. All stood to attention as they walked past, it was like a guard of honour for them. Police officers waited at the top of the stairs ready to head down as soon as they were up. If all that was hard for Velma to take in there was the crowd outside.

"All hail the Dinkley bearer!" they cried as Shaggy emerged with Velma, the crowd cheered as she was swallowed up into her parent's arms.

"Who, who, what, all these people? What the hell is going on here!?" said Velma as she looked around at the scene in the car park. After so many days in near silence and isolation the noise and the crowd was disorientating and a little frightening.

"Well it's a bit hard to explain but…" her father began.

His explanation got no further as it was drowned out by the sound of booing as the Icktharians were brought of the store by the police. Because of the nature of the crime the local FBI was there as well as representative from Alaska Fish and Game just in case they were real fish and the State Department just in case they were real fish people. Velma began to settle down slightly, finally there was some familiar territory she could relate to. As was customary for this kind of crime none of the criminals had been unmasked. They were herded together and made to sit down. A few police officers, Fred, Daphne and Shaggy walked up to the Icktharians, each took hold of a head, an FBI agent nodded and they all pulled in unison.

"And it's…" the heads of the costumes came off "…people we don't know," said Shaggy, Fred and Daphne simultaneously. Scooby didn't care who they were, they'd hurt Velma and upset Shaggy was all he needed to know so growled angrily at them.

"Not by sight, I can recognise their voices quite easily," said Velma standing next to Shaggy who took hold of her hand.

"We know them," said Sonia and Rudi.

"So do I," Mr Dinkley walked up and put his hands on Velma's shoulders.

"Anybody else know them?" whispered Fred.

"Hell's bell's and buckets of blood, it's some of the trade delegation!" said the mayor.

"Yes you're right, I recognise him from a meeting," the voice belonged to Fred and Velma's dentist, she sheathed her sword, glowering at the one she recognised.

"One of them did say I needed a filling," said Velma.

"Well that filling is on me," said her dentist.

"Yay," said the DInkley's together though Velma spoke with less enthusiasm than her parents.

"Yes, I believe I do as well," Daphne turned to see her boss, dressed as a mage walk over to Mr Dinkley "I understand now why you didn't want to discuss co-operation on that school science and engineering project idea my team had."

"Yes, but now we can," said Mr Dinkley squeezing Velma's shoulders another job she thought.

As the crooks were loaded onto a police van the assorted musicians start playing and people began to dance as a party atmosphere settled on the crowd. Flags were tossed into the air and the blood wine was already flowing amongst the Klingons.

"But, but, I, but..." for once Velma was lost for words, she stared at the impromptu carnival trying, and failing, to comprehend what was going on.

"Here, this should help explain things," Daphne handed Velma her phone with a video ready to play.

"But why? This must be about as mad as any scheme you kids have foiled, gets," said the Mayor as the police van left under escort.

"By framing the Nordskov's for kidnaping Velma they could ruin their business then by forcing the Dinkleys to close down they could move into both the Coolsville market and that vacated by the Nordskov family," said Fred.

"But it all went wrong when we proved that the Nordskov's weren't involved and when Rudi found that the way into their lair," said Daphne.

"No Daph, it all went wrong for them when they picked on the wrong man," said Velma quietly, transfixed by the film she was watching on the phone.

"We helped too…" began Fred but was silenced by Daphne.

"Not now Freddie," said Daphne prodding Fred with her crutch and leading him away.

Velma continued to watch the films Daphne had taken as Shaggy walked her to the Mystery Machine while her parents followed at a discreet distance behind.

"Didn't think people would do this for me, I'm not lov…" Velma said quietly, the aftereffect of thinking those thoughts earlier was now an emotional hangover that would leave her depressed for days. That mixed with enormity her escape, near recapture, rescue, the scene in the car park and what she'd just seen on the films was proving too much for her to process.

"Don't you get it?" said Shaggy tenderly as he took her hands in his.

"I, I don't know." He reached out and gently brushed her hair away from her face.

"Like Velma, you are loved," Shaggy looked down, she looked into his eyes and finally understood, she was indeed loved.