Well, here it is, the sequel to "Beauty and the Geek and Beyond." You don't need to read the previous story to understand this one, though as a writer I'm certainly not going to tell you not to. :) All you need to know for sure from the story is that Ferb is a high-functioning autistic with savant abilities regarding engineering and design, and Candace is receiving counseling, but hasn't stopped busting entirely. She just saves it for the times she deems most dangerous. Which is still kind of a lot. This story's not gonna be quite as carefree as the prior; it'll get a bit intense later on, so fair warning. Nothing above a T-rating, though, but it earns its rating this time around. Pairings: Linda and Lawrence, and Candace and Jeremy. As for Isabella and Phineas, there's the crushing from her and the obliviousness from him, but no actual romantic relationship just yet. I support the pairing, but they're still a bit young for true romance and all that follows, IMHO. As for Vanessa and Ferb, status normal: he has a cute kid crush; she doesn't know and is still too old for him for another few years. Now, with all my declarations, out of the way, the legalities. Once again....

I do not own this oh-so-adorable show.

Swampy and Dan created it, not me, and Disney owns it.

I am not making any money off this product and am paid only in my own satisfaction.

A word to my awesome reviewers – in advance, thanks, and while I try to remember to thank each of you personally, sometimes I'm accessing the site and my email from my phone, which doesn't let me reply and I forget. I appreciate every one of you, and if I don't tell you that personally, I apologize. Feel free to make suggestions of what you'd like to see as the story unfolds. I may not be able to work it in, but sometimes I can and I want you to enjoy the tale. That's my primary goal, to entertain someone through my work.

Unlike my last fic, the dates are not specifically stated, mostly because this fic doesn't have specific dates assigned to it like the last one did in my mind. It follows the events of the first story, though. This fic will branch off into its own alternate time line eventually as certain events occur, but will definitely keep the same format to the universe – the people are the same we know and love, the boys make the impossible possible, and Candace goes above and beyond the call of her big-sister duties sometimes. For those who didn't read the first story, this one starts during the spring that follows The Summer of Big Ideas.

- - - - - - - -

"Frolic. I think that's my new favorite word." Phineas Flynn said the word aloud again, dragging it out and contemplating it. "Frooooooliiiiic."

Ferb Fletcher glanced over at him from the shade the tree in their backyard provided. "Yes, some words do strike the ear as sounding strange sometimes."

Phineas nodded. "Yeah. Residence is kinda like that sometimes. Res-i-dence. I think I like that one too."

Ferb shrugged. "Well, while you're phonetically deciphering the English language, should I be figuring out what we ought to do today? I would hate to see a perfectly good Saturday go to waste."

"Anything in particular you want to do?" Phineas asked. He knew he kind of dominated the planning sometimes, but excitement got the better of him and off he went on a whirlwind of enthusiasm. In quiet moments like this, he tried to make sure Ferb got a chance to have his say.

Ferb shook his head.

"Okay," Phineas said. As he was thinking, he heard his mother call out from inside the house. "Phineas! Ferb! There's someone at the door and I'm busy with the oven! Can one of you go get it?"

"Sure, Mom!" Phineas yelled back, hopping up and heading inside. Ferb waited where he was; there was unspoken confirmation between the two of them that Phineas would be back.

Phineas opened the door, finding a man he didn't recognize. The man was wearing a nice suit, the kind that looked pretty expensive. Phineas waved at him. "Hi. What can we do for you?"

The man looked down at him, frowning a bit. "You're Phineas, aren't you?"

Phineas nodded. "Yep, that's me."

"Is your mother here?" the man asked.

"Yeah," Phineas replied, "but she's busy in the kitchen. Why don't you come on in? I can take you to her."

"That would be nice," their visitor said. "Thank you."

"Oh, no problem." Phineas trotted into the kitchen, the man following. "Hey, Mom. I brought him back here so you could finish what you're doing."

She nodded, then poked at a turkey breast with a meat thermometer. "Thank you, Phineas." As Phineas headed back outside, he heard his mother murmur, "Come on, little turkey breasts, just ten more degrees for me."

- - - - - - - -

Linda Flynn knew coaxing her turkey breasts wouldn't actually make them bake faster, but it helped her pass the time. As soon as they were done, she could put them in the refrigerator to chill, then dice them up to have perfect turkey strips to go in the salad tonight. Take that, Martha Stewart.

"Funny." A voice came from behind her, one she recognized instantly, and it chilled her. "I never pictured you as a domestic diva, Linda. Having fun?"

Linda froze, then stood up and turned around. "Michael. What the hell are you doing here?"

Her ex-husband shrugged, smirking a bit. "Don't worry, I'm not looking to get back together."

"Good, because I'm happily married." Linda practically spat out the words. Michael had never abused her or Candace, but after putting up with years of his cheating and the fact that other than monthly court-mandated checks, he had never sent his children so much as a birthday card, Linda was more than a bit annoyed. "Considering you insisted on a paternity test for your son before you'd even met him, I think you've got some explaining to do, showing up in my house like this. Does it mean anything to you that the first time you laid eyes on him was just a few minutes ago? Do you know how old Candace is now? Do you care?"

Michael crossed his arms. "I do care, and I've made mistakes. I'll admit that. As for the paternity test, my lawyer insisted, considering you so conveniently discovered you were pregnant after the divorce went through."

Linda could grant him that, but his ambivalence she couldn't forget and she was going to have a hard time forgiving. "You never answered my question. Why are you here?" She shoved the turkey breasts back into the oven, closing the door hard.

"It's business," Michael explained. "I saw a video clip on line, from a summer music program here in Danville. A group called the Baljeetles. Heard of them?"

Linda shook her head. "Phineas and Ferb were helping their friend out with a project."

"And 'Gitchee Gitchee Goo,' the amazing one-hit wonder?" Michael asked.

"It was for some teen singing idol competition at the mall." Linda rolled her eyes. "Listen, if you're trying to point out to me that my children have talent, I already know that."

"Our children," Michael reminded her. "At least Candace and Phineas are. Your stepson, he's good, but I'm thinking a family act here. Picture it with me. Lindana makes a comeback, her greatest yet, with her two children at her side. Lindana Plus Two. Or something. I haven't nailed down a name yet. Either way, you're going to need a record producer, and who better than me?"

Linda ripped the dishtowel off of the oven door handle and threw it at him. "What, so your children can earn their own child support checks? Forget it, Michael. I don't care if you made some hot-shot producer of yourself or not. You were never there when it mattered."

Michael frowned. "Hey, I'm no deadbeat."

True, he'd paid his child support as ordered, but there was a lot more to being a father than that. Linda's children called Lawrence Fletcher "Dad" because he was the only real father they'd known. "Maybe not, but they don't make Father's Day cards for 'sperm donor with a checkbook,' either. Now get out."

"Those children have a future in music, Linda," Michael insisted.

"Maybe, and if it's what they want, then I'll support it when the right opportunity comes along." Linda crossed her arms over her chest. "I'm not selling them out for some crazy PR stunt. Get out."

"At least let them decide," Michael pleaded.

Linda pointed toward the door. "We'll discuss it over dinner. Out!"

Reluctantly, Michael edged his way toward the door. "Call me and let me know."

Linda kept pointing until he was out the door and had shut it, fighting the urge to make a much ruder gesture. Once Michael was gone, Linda returned her attention to the oven, but then her husband seemed to materialize from out of nowhere at her side.

"What's wrong, love?" Lawrence asked, putting a hand on her shoulder. "I thought I heard you arguing with someone down here."

"No one you need to worry about," Linda assured him. "He's heard our children play and he wants to turn them into dollar signs.

Lawrence was the one frowning now. "That's no good at all."

"No, it's not." Linda glared in the direction of the door. "And if I have my way, he won't be back here again."