A/N: Well, well... am I seriously writing about Phineas and Ferb? A show on Disney channel?! The horror!

I'm not sure how the plot developped in my head. I was out with a couple of friends yesterday and they said something along the lines of "Imagine a Platypus being married to a duck!!" which for some reason, put in motion the cogs in my head. I realise I have very weird friends. Anyway, the story began to take form around this Platypus image, so thank Perry for the creation of this story. Sigh.

I do not own Phineas and Ferb or any character or theme affiliated with this show.


A Platypus Engagement

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Summers delicately changed to autumns for the two young boys under the solitary tree. With each passing season came the disappointment, but also the anticipation of new things to create when school ceased and the summer months attacked the semi-sleepy tri-state of Danville. Ferb would meticulously draw up plans and schematics for his brother to review and together they would put them away in a shoebox atop a high shelf in their room.

Ten summers passed since.

The boys, no longer boys, had grown. Plans were fewer now, as their futures began calling in the distance and they prepared for college. Entrance exams, revising, and calls from their sister had taken up too much time in their already busy lives. Nevertheless, their parents urged them forward, taking pride that both of their sons were about to build the foundations for their futures.

--

"Have you thought about what course you're going to take, Ferb?" Lawrence asked gently, putting down his paper to look at his son curiously. The boy regarded this blankly and shrugged.

"Well you should probably think about it, son. Places are limited you know."

"I know," Ferb answered with a roll of his eyes, "We've been having this conversation everyday for the past month, dad."

Lawrence 'hmm-ed' to himself and leant forward with a strange expression on his face. Ferb recognised it well. His mother had attacked him with that look only this morning, as had his sister on her regular visits. He shivered slightly at the impending doom hanging over his head.

"What about a girlfriend, Ferb? Have you thought about that?"

Ferb shot his father an incredulous gaze. His family members, save for Phineas, had begun pressuring him into taking a girlfriend. Their main argument was that he was much too lonely with only his brother for company. Alas, Ferb knew the real reason for all the fuss. Candace, in a horrible act of jumping to conclusions, had asked their mother if he had shown any interest towards… men. This question had been met with hazardous attacks on his sexuality.

"Well, yeah. But they don't drop from the sky you know."

Lawrence sighed, "Yes, I suppose not. But there are a few around town who look eligible."

"Eligible?" Ferb echoed, slightly put out by his fathers choosing of words, "Dad, if it makes you and mum feel any better, there is a girl I've been crushing on. Happy?"

"Oh, gosh, yes!" Lawrence doubled on himself with a relieved breath, "You have no idea how reassured I feel."

"I can guess." Ferb muttered lowly, rising from the couch.

He passed his father and walked into the kitchen with the intention of getting a drink of water. Whilst scouring the cupboards for a glass, Ferb could not help but let out a few angry, garbled sentences aimed at cursing his sister for the torment her questions had caused. Just because the girls around town had not interested him, did not mean she could go around spreading rumours at her will. Phineas himself had heard the circulating lie from his girlfriend, whom had tacitly pulled him away from a large pressing crowd at the time. Apparently, it had been quite a large topic in Danville, up until two months ago. All thanks to Candace.

Ferb took a large gulp and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.

"Ferb, my main man! How's life?"

The green haired young man turned to the kitchens entrance, in time to see his brother waltz in lightly, humming under his breath and sporting a wide grin. Phineas grinned at Ferb as he passed and shot towards the counter to retrieve his wallet.

Ferb's brow rose and a pleasant smile settled on his face, "Fine. Are you about to do what I think you're about to do?"

Phineas met his brother's gaze with an elated laugh and jump. Ferb could almost feel the excitement emitting from the nineteen year old, and it only made his smile gain volume. They clasped their hands in a congratulating handshake, both laughing like their was no tomorrow.

"I can't believe it!" said Ferb finally, once the laughter had died and Phineas had stilled, "You're actually going to do it!"

"Of course I am!" Phineas replied, "I'm picking her up in an hour. You feel like filming this momentous occasion?"

Ferb shook his head, albeit miserably, and said, "I can't. I'm scheduled for a college interview."

Phineas darkened slightly, "Oh. Well good luck." He checked his watch hurriedly and grimaced, "Ow. I've got to go and meet with Isabella's mother now."

"What for?" Ferb asked.

Phineas stuffed the leather bound wallet in his jeans and fixed his collar, "I've got to get her blessings don't I?"

"Since when are you so worried about, blessings?"

Phineas shrugged, "I heard dad talking about it to you. Something about making sure you had the parent's blessing before marrying with a girl- hey! Are they still on your back about that whole you being a homosexual thing?"

Ferb shot his brother a scalding look and replied cynically, "I straightened that out, thank you very much."

"Ah yes," said his younger brother knowingly, "The mystery girl."

Ferb rolled his eyes yet again and moved to let the boy pass, punching his shoulder as Phineas did so. His sibling stuck his tongue at him, but raced out of the house with a quick farewell to their father. He heard Lawrence respond in kind and then all was still once again. Ferb put a hand to his tousled hair and sighed. His little brother was about to become engaged. His older sister had gone and married, expecting her first child in the limited space of four months. It seemed everyone he knew had begun his or her lives, leaving poor old Ferb behind.

Deciding that he should prepare for his interview, he absently made his way upstairs, passing Lawrence without a word.

Ferb sighed.


Phineas thanked his stars that Isabella's home was just on the other side of the street, which meant he hadn't the time to panic or reconsider his plan. And even if he wanted to turn tail and run, Mrs. Garcia-Shapiro was waiting for him, slightly surprised by his call and want to speak to her alone. Swallowing down the lump that had formed in his throat, Phineas willed his hand to reach the doorbell.

The door opened almost instantly and there stood Mrs. Garcia-Shapiro, wearing a welcoming smile.

She ushered him inside, "Phineas! So good to see you-- how are you? Did you get taller? My, you look quite handsome today!"

Phineas chuckled at the woman's speech output. Mrs. Garcia-Shapiro had always spoken quickly, sometimes merging Spanish with English, only serving to confuse anyone she met. Yet, after many years, Phineas was proud to say he had picked up a few things and now rationally understood the Hispanic woman.

He smiled gently at her, "Nice to see you again, Mrs. Garcia-Shapiro."

She laughed (a high chatter) and waved the comment away, "Oh, Phineas! I told you to call me Alexandra. Come in, come in! I just baked a batch of cookies."

She led him into the sitting room where many of Isabella's smiling relations, turned to stare at him from their frames. He recognised the family portrait by the fireplace, where he saw his girlfriend as a young girl, sitting on a laughing man's lap, Alexandra's arms around them both. Phineas knew little about Isabella's father, apart that he had been a voluntary fire fighter whom had met his end amongst the flames. Neither Alexandra nor Isabella liked to talk about him, so he remained a shadowy figure in Phineas's mind.

Alexandra had him sit on the couch, and badgered him into taking one of the cookies sitting in a tray on the coffee table. Phineas declined softly, feeling that his chest had begun to constrict.

"Uh, Mrs. Ga-- I mean, Alexandra… do you know why I wanted to speak to you alone?" he chanced. Perhaps her mother would have an inkling suspicion, and his job would be that little easier.

"No."

His hope popped.

"Well," he began, nervously tugging at a corner of his shirt, "I wanted to ask your permission for something. A big something."

Alexandra's brow rose in question, but she did not speak. Phineas felt himself break into a light sweat and cursed the sudden appearance of nausea.

"I want a blessing actually." he continued recklessly, gaining strength from the stale silence, "Because I want to ask Isabella if she'd marry me."

A pregnant pause ensued, filled with heavy breathing on Phineas's part and a widened stare from Alexandra. After another moment of hush, she broke out into a large grin and let out a tremendous squeal.

"MY CHICA IS GETTING MARRIED!"

Phineas, startled by the sudden appearance of sound, jumped in his seat and watched the woman with a disbelieving stare. Alexandra was on her feet, in near-tears as she glanced about the room tipsily, still shrieking for all to hear. Phineas tried to coax her back on the couch, but she was persistent.

"Oh, Phineas! Oh, Oh! Oh, my… we-we have to get things ready!"

"Alexandra, calm down! I haven't even asked her yet. She can't know about any of this, okay?"

Alexandra nodded furiously, "Oh, yes! I understand, I understand. You have my blessing, Phineas. Such a nice boy, such a great man! Oh…" and then she burst into a wave of tears and crumpled to the sofa, snivelling into her hands.

Phineas, with a beaming smile not often used in this situation, pat his future mother in laws back soothingly.


Ferb sat patiently before the Headmaster of Danville's IT College, as the balding man reviewed his files with a low hum of appreciation. It was a familiar sight to the nineteen year old. He had gone to at least ten interviews for colleges around the Danville area, and the more interviews the better his chances at getting into one of the institutions.

It was nearing nine o'clock and his thoughts strayed from the college towards his brother, and hopefully, his brother's lovely fiancée. The pair was most likely celebrating their engagement in town, giddy and elated, going from club to club. At least Ferb hoped so. He could not imagine his brothers pain if Isabella refused.

A voice brought him back to attention and Ferb noticed the Headmaster had risen to his feet.

"You have quite an impressing file, Mr. Fletcher. Might I ask what career you are hoping to aim for?" the man set a calculated gaze on him.

"I'd like to go into game design, or perhaps machinery, Mr. Davis." Ferb replied, standing also, "But my interests might change in that period."

Mr. Davis nodded and offered his hand for Ferb to shake, "Well, Mr. Fletcher, you can expect a reply from us in the next few weeks. Until then, enjoy your summer."

Ferb nodded absently, "Thank you, Mr. Davis, likewise."

In a hurried march, he sped out of the grand office and the building to the parking lot where his mother's car awaited him. Unlocking the cherry-red vehicle and strapping himself in, Ferb revved the engine and set off for home. He noticed that he was monumentally over the speed limit but that seemed trivial against the want to get home-- fast.

He turned into the Flynn-Fletcher driveway an hour later, feeling the anticipation rising as he noticed the lights were on in the living room. Lightly stepping out and moving towards the front door, he halted as his mother burst from the house and all but knocked him down, laughing into his shoulder.

"Mum?" he asked slowly.

Lynda looked up at her son with a genuine look of soft love in her eyes, "You're brother's getting married!"


A/N: I like corny stuff -shrug- ... go figure