A/N: So this story is a continuation of 'Summer Belongs To You', so to speak. It's basically my head-canon of what might have transpired between Phineas and Isabella, because let's face it, literally all of us thought that this special would be when they got together. Sadly, it didn't happen, despite all the hints that were dropped. Anyway, on with the story!

ISABELLA'S POV

"Man, what a great party. Wouldn't you agree, Ferb?"

Ferb gave Phineas a thumbs up as he finished putting items in a garbage bag and tied a knot at the top, throwing it on top of the numerous other bags kept in a pile near the tree. He squinted, counting the bags. Phineas yelled, "All right everyone, I think that's it! Great job and thanks for helping out with the clean up!" The various residents of Danville who came for their 'Welcome Home' party dispersed, walking through the front gate. A man wearing a hat walked up to him with a form. "Say, aren't you a little young to be doing all this clean-up work?" he asked me as he handed him the form to sign. Phineas raised his eyebrows at the man. "Sir, me and my friends just flew all around the world in a day in a plane that my brother and I built. We got Clay Aiken and Chaka Khan to guest star in this episode too. Do you think we can't handle a little clean-up job?"

"Eh, you got a good point there kid." I silently laughed at his reply. 'Only Phineas can give such clever replies.' I sighed happily before remembering I wasn't alone. I quickly put a normal smile on my face as Phineas took the form back. The man yelled to the driver in the truck behind him, "Ok, take it away!" A big claw grabbed the bags and pulled them into the truck. "By the way, thanks for the giant claw invention. It really does save a lot of time." Phineas chuckled. "Glad you like it." The truck door shut as it drove away. After closing the gate, Phineas walked over to us. "Great work today guys! I think we proved that if we just believe we can, we can do anything." Candace smiled at him and said, "Just this once, I won't bust you. Now I'm going to bed. I'm so tired I can barely stand. Good night guys!" She rushed inside the house. Phineas said with a smirk on his face, "I have a feeling she's just going to call Jeremy and chat with him about that kiss they had. They looked like they were having so much fun." Upon hearing this, I perked up. 'He thinks that stuff is fun? Oh wow…..maybe there is some hope! OK, Isabella. Today you're going to do it. I mean, I didn't misread the signs, right? He danced with me all night, and he held my hand! It has to mean what I think it means! I'm going to finally tell him how I feel about him!'

Phineas sighed and stared at the bikes, which were shunted to a corner. "I guess everyone gets their bikes back now, so that solves the problem of you guys walking home. Except for you, Isabella. I mean, you live right here." I laughed and said, "Yup. And I wouldn't live anywhere else in the Tri-State area." I smiled warmly at him, and he smiled back. My heart started doing relay races when he looked at me. Suddenly he said, "Ok guys, I think we all need to turn in now. I'll see you all tomorrow! Good night! Oh…um…hey Isabella, could you stay behind a bit? I kind of need to talk to you alone."

I simply stared at him as a tingle ran through my body. It seemed too good to be true. Phineas Flynn, the love of my life, wanted me to talk to him alone at night, under the stars, AFTER we spent the entire night holding hands, laughing and dancing together. I was giddy with excitement, so much so in fact that I didn't know or care that everyone else was looking at me rather weirdly. I managed to nod as everyone else left the backyard. Phineas walked up to me and we simply stood under the moonlight. I waited for him to say something; preferably a confession of his undying love for me, but a simple 'I like you' would be enough to send me into Phineasland. He smiled and finally said,

"Listen…what you did, back there on the island? That was amazing. You motivated me to continue on and to never give up, even when I had given up on myself. If it wasn't for you, we would have never made it back to Danville in time."

I blushed as I ran my hand through my hair. "Oh, you know….I couldn't watch you tear yourself up over something like that. I mean…you're my best friend…..I would do anything for you." I put as much hope and affection as I could in those words, hoping he would take the hint and finally say it. He smiled warmly at me, and I smiled right back. It was a moment right out of my fantasies, and I was loving every minute of it. Then he opened his mouth and said, "I just wanted to thank you for helping me. Sorry to have kept you here longer than the others. I'll see you in the morning tomorrow. Good night!"

And he turned around and walked inside, shutting the door behind him, leaving me shell shocked in the backyard. I stood there for a full minute, not wanting to digest what just happened. A feeling of hopelessness started to overcome me as I felt tears well up in my eyes. Not willing to let them fall, I turned and walked to the gate, swinging the door open and walking out, a small sob escaping my throat.

'I finally thought I got through to him…Why? Phineas…why can't you see how much I love you…..?'

FERB'S POV

I silently watched the slow retreating figure of Isabella as she swung the gate door open. I sighed and turned around to see my step brother emerging from the bathroom with a huge smile on his face. Our pet platypus, Perry, was sitting at the foot of our beds, like he always did. Phineas said in a cheerful tone, "Well Ferb, I think it's safe to say that today was an amazing day. Definitely one of the highlights of the summer, if you ask me." I simply stared at him, my mind acknowledging what he said but also thinking of how oblivious he was to his childhood friend's huge affection for him. I said, "Phineas, what do you know about love?"

The question seemed to take him by surprise. He sat on his bed and said in a slow voice, "Well…..I know what every other boy my age knows I suppose. Love is a complex emotion that captivates a girl or a boy and causes them to feel affection for each other. Then again, that's the romantic notion of love." He looked at me curiously. "Why do you ask?" I shrugged. "I don't know, really. I've just been having these….weird thoughts lately." Even though it was common knowledge that Isabella had a crush on Phineas, I had to act as if I was noticing it for the first time. Phineas' eyes went as wide as dinner plates and he exclaimed in a shocked voice, "Ferb?! Do you like someone?" I shook my head with a chuckle. "No, but I think someone else does." Phineas looked at me with a quizzical expression. I quickly realized that I might have let the cat out of the bag and I mentally cursed myself. 'If he figures it out, Isabella will kill me. She will hunt me down with the rest of the Fireside Girls and I'll be forced to flee the country. Maybe I'll go back to England – I'm sure Mum and Dad will understand.'

However, he laughed and said, "Really? That's interesting. Huh…I wonder who it could be." I breathed an involuntary sigh of relief as I sat down on my bed. "Hmm…..you know a definite way to tell if someone is in love with another person is the way they act around said person. Have you noticed anybody acting…rather odd lately?" Phineas put his hand to his chin in thought. "Well…honestly….." I leaned forward in expectance, hoping that he would realize what I was getting at.

"No, I don't think so. Everyone seems pretty normal to me."

It took every ounce of willpower I had not to facepalm myself.

"Phineas, do you care about Isabella?" I was going in for the kill – I couldn't stand it anymore. She was hurting way too much and the obliviousness of my step brother only reached new heights every day. Isabella could do whatever she wanted to me – at this point, if what I saw over the course of the entire day means what I think it means, she'll have her beloved Prince Charming by her side by the end of the day.