AN: I've been working on a 'how they met' story for quite a while now. Friendly Phineas and reserved Ferb are three-years-old in this story. This is my take on how they met, became brothers and friends. This piece takes place over the time frame of a year.

"You don't have to come out today if you don't want to Ferb." Lawrence said to his three-year-old son. Ferb looked at his father, to his building bricks, to his favourite story book and back to his father. "I just thought it might be nice for you to meet her." Lawrence continued, he was obviously disheartened that his son didn't want to meet the woman his father was dating. The young child blinked at his father, turned around and walked down the hallway.

Lawrence followed his son into the bedroom and found Ferb looking at a family photo; tears in his eyes. "I know you miss her, I do too." He sat down beside Ferb on the bed. "Ferb, look at me. I don't want to replace her. I want to remember her as much as you do." He said and handed his son a tissue.


"Thank you for looking after him this afternoon Cheryl. I'll be home by dinner time." Lawrence said to his neighbour, as he dropped Ferb off.

Lawrence arrived at the address he was given. He got out of the car, walked up the driveway and nervously rang the doorbell. The door was opened by a young red haired girl, Lawrence thought she might be six or seven years old. "Can I help you?" She inquired. Then Linda came to the door. "Lawrence, good afternoon. Please come in." She said with a smile.

Linda and Lawrence went into the living room and sat on the couch. "This is Candace, my daughter. My son, Phineas, is taking a nap right now." Linda said as she noticed Lawrence looking around at some photos on the walls. "You don't like children." Linda whispered. Lawrence looked at her. "No, no. I do like children." He replied quickly. "I have a son as well. Ferb." He said with a smile.

Linda looked at him. "Why didn't you bring him along?" Lawrence pondered his answer for a moment. "He's very shy. He didn't want to come out today." Linda patted his hand. "Maybe another time. What does he like to do, just so we can plan a fun day for everyone." Lawrence smiled weakly. "You know... typical boy things."

A young red-headed child charged downstairs. "Mom! Can we go to the park? I need to go to the park. I had a dream that I met my best friend at the park!" Linda caught the youngster. "Phineas, we need to use our inside voices in the house; remember?" The little boy nodded and looked expectantly at his mother for an answer. Linda looked at Lawrence for a moment. "Maybe in a little bit honey, Mommy's got a friend over." Phineas turned to face the newcomer. "Hello. My name's Lawrence." Lawrence introduced himself.

After a little bit, Linda and Lawrence took everyone to the park. Phineas and Candace played until dusk. "I'm hungry!" Candace complained. "Why don't we go out for something to eat?" Linda suggested. They went to a fast food restaurant just on the other side of the park.

After dinner Lawrence walked Linda and her children home. "Today was fun Lawrence." Linda said. He smiled at her "Yes, it was. I'd love to see you again sometime." He replied. Linda looked at her watch. "Time for you two to get ready for bed." She called to her children. Lawrence's eyes went wide and he looked at his own watch. "Oh dear! I promised my son I'd be home for dinner. I'll call you tomorrow." He called out as he headed for his car.

Lawrence arrived back at the apartment and knocked on his neighbour's door. "I'm so sorry Cheryl. I lost track of time." Cheryl looked at him, with sadness in her eyes. "He watched the clock from 4:30 until 8:00pm. He refused to eat anything. He just sat on the floor watching, waiting and weeping. He finally fell asleep. I moved him into the bedroom. Poor little guy." Lawrence picked Ferb up and took him back to his apartment. He changed the child into pyjamas, kissed him on the forehead and placed him in his own bed. "Good night, Ferb. I'm sorry." Lawrence whispered and closed the bedroom door.


A scream and a cry woke Lawrence up, it was three in the morning. He rushed into Ferb's room to find that his son was sick. "Ferb what happened?" He called out as he approached the youngster. Ferb continued to heave, his little body shaking. "No. No. No." Lawrence started to panic. He picked up the phone and accidentally called Linda.

The phone rang and woke Linda up, she looked at the clock, 3:20am. "Hello?" She answered groggily. "Lawrence, calm down." She was fully awake now. "What was the last thing he ate? How old is he?" Her eyes went momentarily wide as she sat up in bed. Now she was worried for her friend's son; she could hear the child being sick on the other end of the line. "Get him into a warm bath."

Linda spent the next two hours on the phone making sure that Lawrence and his son were all right. "I'll be over after breakfast." She told him before she hung up.

Linda went downstairs and started breakfast for her children. She also rummaged through the freezer, she always had some frozen soups; for quick meals. "Morning Mom." Candace called as she came into the kitchen. "Morning dear." Linda replied. "We're going to visit with Lawrence today, his son isn't feeling well."

After breakfast Candace and Phineas got dressed and ready to go. Phineas picked out a couple of toys to bring with him. "Make sure that they're quiet toys." Linda called over her shoulder as she collected what she thought she'd need to bring.

They arrived at the apartment where Lawrence lived with his son. "I'm so sorry, Lawrence. How's he feeling?" Linda said as she hugged him. "He's resting right now." He replied as he stepped aside allowing everyone to come in.

Candace walked into the sparsely furnished room and sat on the couch. The television was tuned to a children's program. "I don't like this show." She complained as she searched for the remote. "Candace, we are guests here." Linda admonished her daughter. Phineas sat at the table and started to play with a couple of toy cars he brought along. Lawrence stepped over to the young red-head. "Would you like some tracks to use?" He asked. Phineas looked up. "I guess." The youngster replied.

Lawrence walked past the couch and placed his hand on the pile of blankets his son had buried himself in. Ferb was asleep for now. Lawrence came back a few minutes later with a large plastic box full of toy cars and track pieces. He sat down on the floor and started putting some track together. Phineas soon joined him.

Linda went to the kitchen and started sorting a few things. "Has he eaten anything recently?" She inquired. Lawrence looked up from where he was sitting. "No. I didn't want to tempt fate." He replied then stood up and made his way over to the kitchen area. "I don't know what to do." Lawrence whispered. Linda smiled at him and handed him a plate of crackers. "Put these where he can reach them. If he's hungry, he'll eat. He should also have a glass of water."

Lawrence reached into a cupboard. "He's not used this cup in over a year." He said as he pulled out a sippy cup.

Candace continued to sit on the couch. She then decided she was going to pull a blanket over herself. She grabbed the corner of the top one and pulled it over. Candace didn't realise there was someone under the blanket, they sat up and the girl was looking directly into a pair of very blue, unblinking eyes. The next thing she noticed was the mop of green hair. Her eyes went wide and she leapt to the far end of the couch.

Ferb got off the couch and wandered down the hallway to his room. He closed the door quietly and sat on the floor. He then heard the girl in the other room. "He has green hair!" Ferb started to cry, he then started to cough.