I would like to thank HigherSilver for perusing this story and offering some opinions. The assistance is appreciated.
I do not own Phineas & Ferb, nor their city of Danville. Jeff, Dan & Disney are the fortunate ones.
Sian is a Welsh girl's name with the same pronunciation as the boy's name Sean or Shawn.
Friday afternoon:
"I'm so glad you get access to the company plane." Alison Fletcher said to her husband of eight years as they were leaving the Tri-State Airport with their two children, Sian (5) and Devon (3). Ferb smiled. "Well, I'm also on business this week. I've got three demonstrations arranged for the prototype engine, and two meetings involving new technologies in seismic upgrading to heritage buildings." Alison cast her gaze downwards. Ferb paused in his step and took hold of his wife's hands. "Alison, I'm going to spend time with you and the wee ones, I promise. This trip is not all work." He said, looking at her with a smile.
"Do you think Amanda will like this?" Sian asked her parents holding a small gift bag. "I'm sure she will." Alison assured her.
"I don't know Ferb. I thought this was supposed to be just a regular vacation, and then the others decided that you could make some presentations; so now you're here on business. Ferb, the last time we were supposed to have a family vacation all you did was work. I miss you." Ferb's wife told him as he was getting everyone seated in the limo his company arranged. "That won't happen this time. I promise." Ferb replied and gave her a kiss.
The car pulled up to the hotel. Ferb grabbed everyone's' bags and went to check in. Alison took the children for a walk in the garden.
Ferb entered the hotel room and put the bags down. He sat at the desk and called Candace. "Hello Jeremy, is Candace in please?" He waited a moment for her to come to the line. "We've arrived in town, when would you like us to come over? Would you like us to bring anything? Are you sure? It's no problem. All right, see you soon." Alison and the kids entered the room while Ferb was on the phone. Everyone freshened up a bit, then headed out.
"At least I'm not part of the interview process this time." Ferb and Alison were talking. "How many interviewees are there?" Alison inquired. "There are twelve. I've read over the CVs." Ferb said tentatively. "I'm almost positive that Phineas is one of them." He finished. Alison looked at him with fear in her eyes. "Please don't do the interview. I know you two are not on the best of terms. I know you want to get reacquainted. I know you want to work with him again but what if he doesn't want the position?"
The limo pulled up in front of Jeremy and Candace's house, the family of four got out and headed to the front door.
"I can't wait to see them, I was Devon's age the last time they were over. I've only talked with them on the computer. Are they nice? Are they just as excited as I am?" Sian said bouncing up and down until Ferb put a hand on top of her head. "Calm down. Please, try not to talk their ears off." He said, then turned to Alison with a smile "She gets that from you." Devon on the other hand was trying to disappear behind his father's legs.
"Alison, Ferb. So glad you could make it." Jeremy said opening the door. "You should have let us know when your flight was scheduled to arrive, we could have come to pick you up." He finished. Ferb smiled and replied "Really, it was no problem. I wouldn't want you to go out of your way just for us." Jeremy looked at the two children. "This must be Sian." Jeremy looked at the little girl with brown braided hair. "Though I can't for the life of me see your son. What was his name again? Devon?" Jeremy said smiling and seeing perfectly well that the young green-haired child was clutched onto Ferb's legs.
Everyone went into the living room of the Johnson house and sat down. Devon sat in his father's lap and fell asleep. Sian sat with her mother fidgeting with her hands and bouncing up and down as quietly as she could. "I want to see Amanda. I can't sit still any more. I've been sitting all day."
"Amanda and the boys are visiting with Phineas and Isabella. They'll be bringing everyone over soon." Jeremy said to his niece. "Just be patient, would you like something to eat? Cheese and crackers? A sandwich? A cookie?" Sian looked questionably at her mother. "Cookie?" Alison nodded. "You know. A bikkie." She said. The little girl leapt sideways, pleading with her father and crashing into her brother, while saying "Bikkie, bikkie, bikkie. Please a bikkie?" Devon opened his eyes and looked up at his father, then blinked. Ferb nodded and held up a finger and pointed to his son. Jeremy smiled and nodded then retreated into the kitchen chuckling to himself. "Your kids have the most adorable accent." Candace cooed.
Candace and Alison got caught up with each other. Commenting on how difficult is to keep up with their children and all their activities. "You're the smart one Alison. I never would have considered the whole family taking classes." Candace said in response to a comment Alison made about the whole family taking fencing classes together. "Ferb and I've discovered that we can work out our frustrations in a controlled manner that's really fun. You should see Sian, she's got her father's reflexes." Candace glanced over to her brother then turned back to Alison. "How do you think he'll react when he sees Phineas and Isabella?" Alison glanced over to her husband. "He wants reconciliation; he's apprehensive though. He's spoken of cutting ties with everyone. This will be the first time since your wedding that everyone's been in the same room."
The two Fletcher children were having their juice and cookies in the playroom when the front door opened and a cacophony was heard at the front entrance. "That was my foot you were stepping on." A young female voice said. "I want you to look nice for your Aunt and Uncle, let's fix your bow." Isabella said. "I'm so out of here!" A slightly older female voice sounded. "Amanda, you forgot your jacket." Isabella called. "I don't hang my jacket up downstairs." Amanda replied. "Weren't we supposed to be having guests over for dinner tonight?" A young male voice inquired. "I didn't see another car. I guess they're not here yet. Their flight must have been delayed." Phineas said. "Good thing. I hope that they're too tired to come over." Isabella told her husband. "Can't you just drop it Isabella?" Phineas said as he walked into the living room and saw his brother…
**Flashback**
Phineas was sitting in the bedroom of the apartment he shared with Isabella, staring at the phone in his hand. "Call him." Isabella demanded. "Tell him that we need to get married at the same time." She finished. "Isabella. Don't you want to have your own wedding?" He asked. "It will be my wedding. Only, with Alison and Ferb getting married as well. I'll go shopping with Gretchen and Ginger and we'll get some bridesmaids dresses. Alison will love the pink I've chosen." Phineas' fiancée said.
With a deep breath, Phineas dialled his brother in England. "Alison. It's good to hear your voice." He began. Isabella twisted her hand in the air indicating 'Get on with it!' "Is Ferb able to come to the phone? I see. Um, well… he can call me back. Oh? Really? That's great." Phineas closed his eyes tight and breathed deep. "Ferb. Bro. Isabella and I had a crazy thought… How about the four of us get married at the same time?" There was a loud BANG heard through the receiver and Phineas looked at it. "Ferb? Are you still there?" He paused for a moment. "Alison? Alison! Is everything all right? What was the BANG?" Phineas sat and heard two women talking and his brother yelling, before Alison came back on the line to talk. "Okay. I'll let her know." He hung up the phone.
Phineas looked at Isabella. "Apparently Candace is over there for a visit and said everything would be fine." Isabella looked lovingly at him "That wasn't so difficult was it?" She then grabbed her purse, checked for her credit cards and left.
"Why do I feel as though I've just destroyed my family?" Phineas whispered to himself.
**End Flashback**
Ferb, Alison, Candace and Jeremy all looked at each other in the living room. Phineas walked in and saw Candace and Alison sitting on the couch and Ferb and Jeremy standing. "Ferb! Hey bro! Long time no see." Phineas said with a smile on his face.
Isabella walked into the living room and blanched when she saw her brother-in-law there with his wife. "Oh, hi Ferb. I didn't…. How was your flight?"
Ferb's face was unreadable, his eyes blank. "The flight was fine." He replied emotionlessly. Phineas walked over and tried to embrace his brother, who only offered a hand to shake. Phineas' face fell as he shook hands with his brother. He then looked back at Isabella and the girls. Ferb stepped away and took a seat on a nearby recliner and crossed his arms lightly over his chest. "Cheers." Ferb said as Jeremy handed him a drink.
"What's new Ferb?" Phineas tried to initiate conversation. "Nothing's new. Same job, same responsibilities." Ferb replied, took a sip of his drink and looked at his brother. "And yourself? Anything new with you?" The red head was shocked, his brother was talking with him. "I, uh… I've got a job interview tomorrow for a new company." Ferb nodded. "Interesting." He said. "Do you know which company you're interviewing for? In what capacity?" Phineas looked around the room. "It's an off-shore company, I don't remember the name off hand. I've got the letter at home." He said. Ferb raised an eyebrow at Phineas. "They contacted me Ferb. I didn't apply to them, that I'm aware of." Phineas replied as though he were being accused of something. Isabella stepped over to her husband. "At least Phineas is still inventing things. What is it you do then?" She shot. Ferb glanced at his wife across the living room. "You're right. I don't invent anything any more. I just work in an office, pushing papers and fielding calls." He said as he stood up and left for the kitchen.
Candace followed Ferb to the kitchen. There she found him looking at his phone, frantically tapping away and looking more and more agitated by the second. "Ferb? Is everything all right?" She inquired. He glanced over at his sister and shook his head. "What's wrong, anything I can help with?" She asked him. Ferb snorted and shook his head again. "I've got three more meetings to attend this week, Robert's son is sick so he's not coming. That brings my total to five meetings and three demos. Alison's going to kill me. At least Brad's in town to help. George is Marketing… he's still at home."
"When was the last time you actually spoke with Phineas?" Candace asked. Ferb glanced up from his phone and back again. "I don't remember." He said, then went back to work. His sister looked hard at him. "Ferb. I know you remember. You always remember these things." She stated. "Fine. It was six years ago. Are you happy?" He snapped back. "Look, Candace. I've got a lot on my mind right now. The last thing I need, is to deal with petty arguments about… everything." He said while rolling his eyes.
"Alison's worried about you, you know." Candace lowered her voice and informed her brother as she stepped over to stand beside him. Ferb dropped his head. "Don't you think I know that? I'm a failure Candace. I can't do my job. I can't take care of my family. Not the way they deserve." Ferb trembled and Candace hugged him tight. "Things will work out. You're Ferb Fletcher. You'll invent something that will be beyond anyone's wildest imagination. You'll single-handedly change history. You'll revolutionize modern…"
"Sorry to break up your party, but it's time for dinner" Jeremy announced.
"Thanks Candace." Ferb replied and smiled weakly to his sister. "We should move this table." He said pointing to the kitchen table. Ferb and Candace each picked up an end and moved the table into the living room.
The six adults and Amanda sat down to dinner at the dinning room table. The six younger members of the family sat around the kitchen table that was brought into the living room. The adults were busy planning their parents' 25th wedding anniversary. The Johnson and Flynn kids were talking amongst themselves and the Fletcher kids just sat and picked at their dinner.
"We should do something huge." Phineas declared. "Ferb. We can build a –" He continued before Candace interjected. "Remember, Dad's got a heart condition. You don't want him to have another heart attack do you?" Ferb shook his head. Phineas looked at his sister. "I forgot. He's been so healthy and active lately… so what should we do then?" He sounded dejected. Ferb's hand started to shake slightly and Alison placed her hand on his. "I e-mailed Candace the suggestion of dinner at a nice restaurant and a room in a hotel." Ferb said quietly. Candace looked at her green-haired brother. "That's right. You did suggest that. I think that's a great idea. No logistical nightmare. No unwanted stress." She replied and smiled at her step-brother who nodded in return.
Alison and Candace cleared the table after dinner. "I hope Ferb doesn't work too hard this trip. He promised me he wouldn't." Alison whispered. Candace hugged her sister-in-law. "Alison, are you guys having difficulties? Ferb seems worried about not being a good husband and father to you and the kids. If you'd like, we can keep Sian and Devon here for a couple of days and the two of you can… spend some time together." Alison returned Candace's embrace. "I'll talk with him about that, we might take you up on that offer." She said. "May I join your party?" A very distinctively accented voice inquired. "Ferb." Alison said and wrapped her arms around her husband. "How are you holding up?" She inquired. Ferb ran his hand through his green hair. "As well as I can, I guess. Let's just say that tomorrow will prove interesting." He said as he glanced towards the living room where his brother was talking with Isabella and Jeremy. "Ferb. You said you didn't have…" Alison started before Ferb glared at her and shook his head. "You said you didn't have to work tomorrow." She finished. "I've called for the car, if I'm to 'Take care of things.' As Robert suggests, I should get some sleep. Thank you again Candace, dinner was wonderful as always." He said as he left the kitchen.
A car pulled up in front on the Johnson house. Fiona, a seven-year-old red-haired girl was looking out the window. "Daddy? Why is there a limo outside?" Phineas came over to the window. "I have no idea honey." He turned around and caught a look on his brother's face, one that suggested 'Think, what could the obvious answer be?' before it quickly disappeared. Ferb and his family donned their coats and shoes. Good nights were said and they left in the company car.
"I though he said he's an office worker." Isabella pointed out. "Now he's acting like a pretentious ass hiring a limo..." She said before being cut off "Isabella." Candace warned. "Ferb is in town this week on business. That's all I know, not even I'm sure what his exact job description is… he's never told me. I'm not surprised though, he's a very private person."
Phineas checked his watch. "Look at the time… I've got that interview tomorrow, I better get some rest." The Flynn family got ready and seated in their car. Phineas held back a few minutes to talk with his sister and her husband. "Is there something wrong with Ferb? He wasn't acting like… himself, I guess that's the term I'm looking for, tonight." Candace looked carefully at her brother. "I'm sure it's just the jet-lag. It's been a busy day for them." She said with a smile. Phineas nodded and left.
"You lied to your own brother." Jeremy said. "What? I can't tell him the truth, that Ferb's a founding member of an international technology company. Or that he's planning on cutting ties with the family if certain attitudes don't change." Jeremy looked seriously at Candace. "When did he say that? The last part I mean, about cutting ties with the family." Candace looked to the ground. "Alison told me. They want to reconcile the past, but if that's not possible… He's my brother Jeremy. I don't know what to do."