I do not own Phineas and Ferb.

A collection of (maybe) ten one-shots, each centered around a different pair of siblings.

Siblings: Candace, Phineas and Ferb

I Don't Hate You

Candace Flynn stood stiffly underneath the shelter of the bus stop, pale hands gripping the sleek material of her dark red rain coat. Her brothers sat on the bench behind her, kicking their feet as they waited for the bus to come. Rain pounded against the glass and thunder rumbled overhead.

"This is ridiculous!" Candace finally snapped, glaring at the bus schedule mounted on the wall, protected by a plastic frame. "The stupid bus was supposed to be here ten minutes ago!"

"Maybe it's running late," offered Phineas. "It's really crazy out there."

Candace huffed and glowered through the glass walls of the bus shelter. Rain was coming down in sheets, flooding the road at an alarming rate. She could not remember when Danville had gotten such a bad rainstorm, and she wasn't keen to stick around and witness this one.

"I can't believe this is happening to me," she groaned. "Didn't you guys check the weather ahead of time?"

"Of course we did. But there was nothing to indicate that there would be this much rain." Phineas shrugged helplessly. "It just came out of nowhere."

The trio were stuck deep in downtown Danville, far from their humble home. Candace had been tasked with escorting the boys to a videogame convention, where she was expected to keep watch over them for the entire day.

If I wasn't having fun before, I'm definitely not having fun now, she thought bitterly. A particularly harsh gust of wind blew up, sneaking through the opening in the bus shelter and sending chills down the teen's spine. "That's it!" she declared, digging through her coat pocket. "I'm not waiting any longer. If Mom wants us home safe, she can come get us."

She pulled out her pink cellphone and squinted at the display. Her scowl deepened when she realized she was out of minutes. "Fantastic. Phineas, Ferb, cellphones."

Phineas bit his bottom lip. "I broke mine a few days ago. Dad brought it to get fixed, remember?"

Candace shot him a scathing glare. "What, you couldn't fix it yourself?"

"Didn't have the materials," said Phineas softly. "Besides, Dad saw me break it and offered to take care of it for me."

"Ferb?"

The green-haired boy gave his head a shake. "Dead."

"Useless," groaned Candace, burying her head in her hands. "This is the worst day ever."

"We're sorry," said Phineas meekly.

"Whatever." Candace moved up to the opening and squinted through the ceaseless downpour of rain. She could dimly make out a payphone situated across the street. "Public phone," she sighed. "Oh well. No other choice." She turned to face her brothers. "I'm going across the street. Don't move. I'll be back."

"What if the bus comes while you're there?" asked Phineas.

"Scream my name," returned Candace. "Delay the bus driver. Something. You're the geniuses. I'm sure you'll figure something out."

It was said in too sharp a voice to be meant as a compliment. Phineas slouched against the glass, bringing his yellow jacket closer around him, as his sister left the bus shelter and disappeared into the rain and darkness.

"She's really mad," said Ferb quietly.

Phineas nodded in misery. "She didn't even want to come with us today. Mom made her. I should have checked the weather more carefully. Went a bit deeper into the readings. At least then we wouldn't be stuck like this."

"Not our fault," said Ferb. "These things happen."

Phineas hugged his knees to his chest. "Candace doesn't see it like that. She never does. Everything is always our fault."

The seventeen-year-old had grown increasingly agitated and irritable with them this past summer. She scoffed at their ideas, sneered at their inventions, and grew angry every time they disappeared. Phineas struggled to figure out what to do to make his sister happy, but he was at a loss. Everything they seemed to do only served to make Candace further the distance that had grown between them.

Phineas hated it. He hated having his sister mad at him.

Ferb, on the other hand, was more annoyed with their elder sister than upset. Candace seemed to find any reason to get cross with them, and even when they tried to include her in their activities she just brushed them off. She was acting like a brat, and Ferb did not appreciate her attitude. But he was not one for words, and hoped that Candace would eventually pick up on the frustration and disapproval he was displaying.

"Maybe she would like a super personalized computer," spoke Phineas suddenly. "Voice activated, touch screen, and all the works!"

"The last thing she wants from us is one of our inventions," muttered Ferb. "We should just leave her be."

Phineas looked at him, stricken. "But she's our sister! We have to figure out how to make her happy again!"

"No, we don't. She wants nothing to do with us. The best we can do is give her her space."

Phineas' eyes dimmed and he stared at his soaked sneakers with a sad expression. Ferb felt his heart prickle, as saying the words out loud only made them hurt more.

Candace stumbled back then, soaked from head to toe. "Okay, apparently, the buses are delayed due to the weather," she informed. "Mom said to wait it out. One should be here soon."

Phineas nodded. "'Kay."

Candace did not notice their downcast expressions, which only served to ignite Ferb's annoyance. Is she so concerned with herself that she doesn't care about us?

The bus chugged along the road a few minutes later, and the Flynn-Fletcher siblings piled on. They did not speak a word to each other on the ride back home. Candace practically flew out the door, charging up the walkway and bursting inside. Phineas and Ferb followed along at a slower pace, taking their time with removing their wet clothes and shoes.

"How was your day, boys?" Linda called from the kitchen.

"Good!" Phineas called, managing to inject some degree of enthusiasm in his voice. And it was true-the Gamer Extravaganza Con was amazing. It was just the latter part of the day that got his spirits down. "I'm pretty beat. I think I'll head to bed."

"Okay, hon. There's leftovers in the fridge if you or Ferb get hungry."

"Thanks."

The duo filed up the stairs and passed Candace's firmly shut bedroom door. They could distinctly hear her chattering, which meant she was on the phone. Shoulders drooping, Phineas entered the bedroom he shared with Ferb.

"Hey, Perry," he greeted, dropping onto his raft bed.

Perry chattered in response, managing to keep the concern from showing on his face. They look pretty subdued for a couple of kids who just spent the entire day at a convention dedicated to videogames.

Phineas lifted himself up and rolled over with a sigh. "Are you sure there's nothing we can do to make Candace like us again?" he asked desperately.

ah. That explains it.

Perry felt a swell of annoyance towards his eldest owner. He didn't know what Candace's problem was, but he knew she didn't dislike her younger siblings. She was either putting up a front or projecting her own frustrations onto her brothers.

He suspected the latter was the reason.

"I don't think so, Phin," said Ferb tiredly.

"But-"

As Phineas spoke, Perry hopped to the floor and scurried out of the room. Candace's attitude had gone on long enough, and it was about time she realized what affect it was having on the boys. He went to her door and chattered loudly.

"Stace-hang on. The little meatbrick is at my door." There was the sound of footsteps and soon the door swung open. Candace glared and pointed at him, landline held in her hand. "No, you cannot sleep in my room tonight. You make my sheets smell funny."

Ignoring her, Perry bit a piece of her sock and pulled insistently. Now bewildered, Candace held the phone to her ear. "Uh, Perry's being weird. I think he wants to take me somewhere…no, he's never done that before. Yeah. Uh-huh. I'll talk to you later. Bye."

She hung up and tossed the phone onto her bed. "This better be good," she warned, and followed after the platypus.

Perry brought her over to the boys' room. Candace opened her mouth, brow crinkled in irritation.

"Do you think Candace hates us?"

Her mouth immediately snapped shut, eyes growing wide. There was fear in Phineas' voice, and her stomach twisted into knots when Ferb replied, "I don't know. Maybe."

What the heck? Where did this come from? What did I do to-?

Perry could see the pieces falling into place in Candace's mind-her abrupt manner, sharp words, dismissive gestured and irritated snaps. For almost three weeks, she had treated her brothers as if they were nothing more than globs of gum on her shoe. She had been particularly nasty to them today, now that she was seeing herself clearly.

Her posture slumped and immense guilt flooded her expression. She looked down at Perry. "Now what do I do?"

Perry chattered and waddled into the room. Gulping nervously, Candace followed after him. Phineas looked at her in surprise. "Candace?"

The teen hesitated, rubbing the back of her neck. She mulled over how to approach the matter she had created, eventually settling on, "I don't hate you."

The shock of realizing that his sister had heard what he said was quickly replaced by hope. "You don't?"

Candace flinched, feeling the ball of guilt grow by the second. "No, of course not."

"You sure act like it," said Ferb, his disapproval clear.

"I know."

"Why?"

Candace settled on the edge of Phineas' bed. "I guess…I guess because I'm frustrated," she admitted, and all three occupants missed the flash of triumph that flitted through Perry's eyes. "I always try to show Mom what you're up too, but it never works. She never believes me."

"We could fix that," spoke Phineas quickly. "Maybe film it or have Mom help us-"

Candace smiled humourlessly. "It won't work. Trust me. I've tried everything. I guess Mom just isn't meant to see the stuff you build. Not that I'm going to stop trying. But…that's not the only reason." She stared at the floor. "I'm sorta jealous."

"Jealous?" asked Phineas incredulously, while Ferb tilted his head to the side in confusion.

"Yeah." Candace played with her fingers. "You guys are super smart. You're inventive. You're creative. Everyone loves you. You do things I could never do in a million years. I'm just plain old boring Candace Flynn."

"That's not true!" protested Phineas. "You've given us inspiration for many of our projects."

"Ideas are pretty much the only thing I can do." Candace shrugged.

"Ideas go a long way," spoke Ferb.

Candace laughed softly. "Thanks. I know it sounds silly. I shouldn't be jealous of my younger brothers. But I am. And I guess everything just built up and I lashed out. I'm a jerk. I'm sorry."

"You're not a jerk." Phineas jumped up and wrapped his arms around his sister's neck. "You just had a rough patch. That's okay. We all have those."

Ferb got up and joined the hug, resting his head against Candace's shoulder. "You can talk to us, you know. Whenever you feel bad."

"A teenage girl does not want to talk to her siblings about her problems," said Candace in amusement. "But I appreciate it. I'll try to be less snappy. I hope I didn't ruin your day today."

"No, we had fun," assured Phineas.

"Well…since I was such a jerk, I figure it's only fair that I make it up to you."

Phineas brightened. "Ooh. Can we have a sleepover? We can watch movies and play games and-"

"Sure," she cut in. "But if you do something bust-worthy, I'm all over it."

Ferb smiled. "Wouldn't expect anything less."

"Let's start on snacks!" said Phineas excitedly. He grabbed Candace by the hand, and the girl managed to pick up Perry as her brothers bustled her out of their room.

"You know, I think you're more intelligent than you let on," mused Candace, the platypus tucked under her arm.

No one noticed the smirk that crossed the secret agent's beak.