Okay you guys, I'm up totally late and I'm probably going to be a zombie tomorrow morning, but there was no way that this story was going to be held up any longer. It's kind of been beating on my brain walls for the past week, if you know what I mean. ;) As usual, I hope you all enjoy this.

Realization

Ferb reclined in the shade of a giant tree, peacefully rereading The Odyssey. It just approaching seven o'clock, and his brother would be up soon. Ferb had happily taken to getting up an hour earlier this past summer, simply because he enjoyed it. It was calm, peaceful, and it was silent.

Not fifteen minutes had past when his stepbrother was running jovially out the door calling,

"Hey, Ferb! I know what we're gonna do today!"

Ferb gave him a thumbs up, and Phineas laid a blueprint out before him. The excited redhead got up and began to pace, gesturing vehemently, listing things and just being himself. Ferb also stood up, nodded when appropriate, and made suggestions here and there. It was a generally normal day, up until the point Phineas was interrupted mid-rant by a call of,

"Hey, Phineas! Whatcha' doin?"

Phineas looked up with a smile and a reply on his tongue when he saw Isabella- and anything he was prepared to do was inadvertently put on hold. He stammered slightly, trying to force out the simple words that were suddenly thick, bulky, and caught in his throat.

Of course, there was nothing different about Isabella. Her hair was pulled back into a ponytail and a pink headband rested on top. She wore the usual white blouse, jeans, and kind smile.

What the real difference was was Phineas' awareness of these things. He was awestruck. Isabella shot him a questioning look, and Ferb nudged him with an elbow. Phineas shook his head.

"Huh. Weird. Um, hey, Isabella. We were just starting. The project. For today." Phineas realized he was over explaining himself, and said suddenly and loudly, "So… where's Perry?"

Isabella looked confused, and Ferb was desperately trying to hold back what could only be classified as a giggle.

"Um… okay, then. Let's get started!" She smiled and walked up. Phineas got that look of concentration when he was trying to solve an equation- and Isabella was that equation. After a few moments of extended silence from Phineas, Ferb took his brother's job and started silently explaining the project to Isabella.

She would nod, mm-hm, and soon she knew exactly what needed to be done. All three started working on the thing (Phineas absentmindedly, and Isabella and Ferb somewhat uncomfortably for the lack of conversation.)

Candace's bust attempt failed, their daily project disappeared, bu-bu-but's ensued, Perry reappeared, and Isabella went home. In short, it was a fairly typical day.

"Bye, Phineas! Bye, Ferb! See you guys tomorrow!" With that, Isabella gave a small wave and jogged out the gate.

The day had been fairly normal, but Phineas, on the other hand, had not. He had acted fairly reserved and confused, and merely waved when Isabella said goodbye. When she was safely across the street, Phineas plunked down under the tree, still looking bewildered as if all of the day's events had escaped him.

Ferb walked over and sat down as well. He just waited for his brother to talk- which, inevitably, he did.

"Hey, Ferb?"

"Yes?"

"Isabella's pretty."

Ferb smiled.

"Yes, yes she is."

Let it be known that I had way too much fun writing this. WAY too much fun. Like, having that much fun writing something shouldn't be allowed. But, then again, you guys know me. Hello, I'm The Fluff Machine! I feed off of cute (and off of Phineas' naivety). So, I wouldn't say this is my best, but I hope you guys enjoyed nevertheless!

Thanks for staying at the Fluff Factory, and I'll see ya next time!

Much love,

The Fluff Machine