Howdy, everybody. Weird Heart here with another story! I had thought about a sequel for Song Long As We Have Hands To Clasp even as I published it. As I thought about it more and more, I realized there was plenty of room for one. And so we have it!


What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?

"Come with me, Isabella. Come home. Just for the holidays."

There was no good reason to say no to him, she knew. Everything inside of her was yearning to say yes, to let Ferb Fletcher sweep her away, take her on a plane, and fly home to Danville for Christmas. Go home for the holidays. And so she did.

Christmas hadn't been so wonderful since she was 14 years old. She was back where she belonged with her family and her boys.

Nothing could have been more right. She got to catch up on so much that she had missed with Phineas and Ferb, as well as Linda and Lawrence. Vivian was delighted, and gave both boys suffocating hugs for bringing her daughter home. It was as if she had never left.

And, for just that one moment, everything was perfect.

But perfection never lasts long.

"I still can't believe it's been eight years, Isabella. Gosh, it feels like yesterday we were fifteen, doesn't it? But it sure is good to see you. Good on Ferb for getting you to join us for Christmas. So, how long will you be here?" Phineas finally asked her after a string of speech. Isabella smiled. They were sitting at the dining room table of the Flynn-Fletcher home. This was how it had been for the past two days. Phineas would fire conversation at her, occasionally asking questions, and listening intently to her answer, usually following up with three more questions. She loved every minute of it.

"New Year's," she said, "That's all the paid vacation time they're giving me."

"So, wow, that's only five more days. That's hardly anything!" he said with genuine surprise.

"News doesn't stop for the holidays, Phin. As it is, I'm lucky they gave me a week off."

"That's why I love my job. I don't have to worry about counting my vacation days. NASA is great."

Ferb began coughing.

"Dude, you okay?" Phineas asked.

He nodded, gestured to the glass he had been holding, stood from the table and walked away.

"Bad milk," Phineas muttered, not giving it a second thought. Isabella frowned slightly.

"Phineas, would you excuse me for a minute?"

"Sure," he replied cheerfully. Isabella smiled at him gratefully, then stood up and walked off in the general direction of Ferb. She found him leaning against the wall in the hallway with his hand on the bridge of his nose.

"Ferb?" she asked gently. His head shot up, and he smiled slightly.

"Not many people can sneak up on me."

"I have a light step." She leaned up next to him, and there was a moment of silence. "So, bad milk, huh?"

He sighed.

"Something like that."

Without stopping to think, Isabella looped her arm through his and took his hand.

"Please, Ferb. Don't even try it. I know hurt when I see it, even when it's as well hid as yours. What's wrong?"

It seemed natural, the position they were in. It was as if Phineas and Ferb had never left. They were comfortable together, and Isabella waited patiently for a response.

"I know people grow up and lose touch. It happens. Sometimes, they even reconnect." At this, Isabella smiled, and he continued. "But… it's difficult. It's difficult watching relationships fade, even when you realize the inevitability of it. Phineas truly believes that nothing has changed. Of course, he recognizes that we no longer speak with Buford or Baljeet. But he forgets how quickly time passes. He gets so caught up in the things he does, his new job and new goals that he forgets to remember the people around him. He's so cheerful and full of youth and it's hard to resent him, especially when I bear in mind that we both have new lives, but…" he trailed off, searching for the words.

"But it's hard to let go of the memories you want to go back to."

Ferb just looked at her, stunned.

"Ferb… you have no idea how painful these past years have been for me. You and Phineas… you were my family, and I still consider you to be so. I can't tell you how many nights I've wanted to be fifteen again, just to have the simplicity of that life back. Before you left, things were easy. There was no such thing as impossible. But, then I lost you, and I had to grow up. Believe me, I was so proud of both of you. I knew that college was where you had to be. But that didn't make dealing with the pain of separation any easier. Eventually, I learned that I had to have my own life, and I made one for myself. I became happy with what I had and the friends I made. But I never forgot either of you, or Buford or Baljeet.

"That's the real point of what I'm trying to say, Ferb. You never forget how it used to be. You cherish those memories. But, you let them simply be memories. I'm not saying it's easy. It's not. There are still nights when I miss all of you like crazy, and honestly, I know that going back to Rhode Island on New Year's Day will be one of the most difficult things I ever do. But… I know that there are still memories to be made. I might not get to see you as often, but when I do see you, I remember how dear every second is and how I can't take any time with you for granted. I know that it's hard to be separated from the ones you love, and it's hard to accept change. But, take it from me. It's possible. Make new memories instead of clinging to the old ones and resenting the future. You'll be glad you did." She kissed him lightly on the cheek and walked back into the kitchen.

Ferb placed his hand on his cheek and took it away a second later, still utterly shocked. It was as if Isabella had read his mind, and then told him exactly what he needed to hear. She had changed so much… they both had. The Isabella he had once known would never have said that, or been so bold with physical affection, especially around him. Confused as he was, he knew one thing: perhaps the changes that had come and were still coming their way were for the better. Still, he began to wonder just what had happened to their curious girl across the way over the years.

"When did you become so wise, Bella?"

As Isabella took her seat once again at the kitchen table, she tried to catch up on what she had missed; Linda was sitting at the table and she and Phineas were talking about… something.

"So, are you almost there? How's it coming along, Phineas?"

"Surprisingly well, Mom. I'm usually hopelessly optimistic, I know, but it's really coming into view. I almost have all the funds I need to get started. As excited as I am, though, I'm really going to miss NASA. They've been so good to me."

At this point, Isabella had to cut in.

"Wait, Phineas, you're quitting your job at NASA? I'm confused, what are you working on?"

His eyes lit up the way they always did when Phineas spoke about his big ideas.

"I'm starting my own invention company, Isabella."

She laughed joyfully.

"Phin, that's great! I'm not that surprised though, I always thought you would eventually. You just have too many good ideas not to." He beamed at her. In the back of her mind, she noticed that neither of them mentioned Ferb. Interesting.

"So, I'm sure you've got a million things to try out," Isabella prompted him. It had been years since she'd been privy to one of his schemes.

"You'd better believe it, Izzy!" he replied. She grinned at the old nickname. "I'm going to buy the old factory that used to make the Har D Har toys. Do you remember that?"

She smiled, memories flooding her.

"How could I forget the toy that did nothing and everything? That's just the place for you, too. An old toy factory. You're going to be fabulous, Phineas. I just know it."

He flushed, but smiled brightly.

"Thanks, Isabella. Mom's favorite part of the whole deal is that I'll be moving back to Danville."

"Yes, of course. That's secretly the only reason I'm supporting my son's ambitions," she said with a wink to Isabella. She pushed her chair back and stood.

"I suppose those dishes won't wash themselves. I'm sure you two have plenty of talking to do, and I will leave you to it."

"Thanks, Mom," Phineas said as she walked away.

"So… what's Ferb been up to?" Isabella asked him innocently. He gave her a tight-lipped smile.

"I'm sure if you ask him, he'll tell you." Her brow creased in a deep frown. That was not the answer she had been expecting.

"Of course," he continued with a more genuine smile, "who knows? He is a man of few words, after all."

Isabella's frown lessened as Phineas' mood lifted, but she still couldn't help wondering if his answer could be taken more than one way. There was something going on between those two. They were keeping secrets from her and from each other; that much she knew. She only wasted a moment in lamenting how complicated things had gotten as they grew up- after all, there was nothing that could change it. But she was going to get to the bottom of this whole mess, and try to step on as few toes as possible along the way. There were enough hurt feelings as it was.

She was an investigative journalist, after all. It was her job, and this was her family, and no amount of separation could ever change that. She blew out a sigh. It looked like her "break" was going to be cut a little short. In spite of everything, she grinned in anticipation.

It was time to do some digging.


Okie-dokie, there we have it! The first chapter of What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?. I know that this won't all be up by New Year's Eve, which irks me, but I had to at least publish the first chapter. Plus, I can promise that Chapter 2 won't be far behind because I've almost finished it- yay! So, let me know what you think of this sequel-in-progress. Happy New Year, everybody! Hearts and well-wishes from Weird Heart to you~

Remember,

To be odd is one of the greatest pleasures that life offers.

-Weird Heart