Laura: I'm sorry to those who thought the last chapter was rushed. I wrote part of this story a while back and then forgot all about it and am just NOW picking up the pieces. Only, I didn't wanna bother rewriting it all so I'm just posting it as I last saved it and then I'm gonna pick back up on it and finish it up. Hope you all enjoy it and thank you for reviewing thus far. ^_^

"Oh my gosh, Phineas I just heard!", Isabella said as she came through the backyard gate. "I'm so sorry!"

Phineas and Ferb had not long been told by the police the incident of their parents death. It left an eerie chill in the whole house though it spread to the neighborhood like a wild fire. And as if it wasn't just that BOTH had died, but now Phineas and his siblings were supposed to live with this Heinz Doofenshmirtz guy. Candace didn't seem keen on explaining him further than "biological dad", but to live with someone you barely knew... It was still upsetting to the young boy as he laid against his tree with Ferb, for the last time. But it was hard to tell to the young girl. For Phineas didn't seem to shed a tear. Or bat an eye over it. He simply sat up some more with the same happy smile on his face. As if nothing had happened.

"Thanks, Isabella. It's... It's kinda hard..", he gave a nod, his smile faltering a bit. "It's...gonna be hard on all of us, I think."

"...Phineas... I'm sorry if this is rude, but.. Your parents just DIED."

"Yeah?"

"Well... I'm sorry but... why aren't you crying?", she shrugged in bewilderment.

"Oh I.. I cried.", Phineas nodded a bit. "I just.. Don't wanna cry forever... you know?"

All of a sudden, Phineas didn't really seem like Phineas to her. He was acting like he's hiding something from her. He avoided eye contact. He sniffled every once in a while and he kept rubbing his eyes. It must've been harder on him that she thought.

And for the most part, it was. But Phineas wasn't willing to show. He didn't want to cry. Not in front of Candace and Ferb. Not in front of Isabella. So ever since the news was broken to them, he tried to keep calm. And it wasn't easy. But he did his best to hide it with a smile and a petty lie of them being in a so-called "happy place". He wasn't going to break down into tears. Nope. Not him. Life is too precious for tears, yes siree.

"Um.. Ferb and I have to move away though.", Phineas said, catching Isabella by surprise. "You see... Dad... was never really my dad. Not my biological dad. I was too little to tell the difference. But my real dad.. he's coming to pick us up."

"...Where does he live?", Isabella asked, ready to burst into tears if Phineas said they would be separated by a great distance.

"In the downtown area of Danville.", he said, making Isabella groan in disbelief.

"What?! But that's so far away from here!", she exclaimed.

"I know... I'm gonna miss you..", Phineas said.

He reached up and hugged her close, trying harder than ever not to let a tear fall. Isabella was slightly surprised by the sudden closeness but returned the embrace herself, allowing the tears to fall. He was going away. For good! The only time they'd see each other would be IF she went that far into town for whatever reason and during school. To some kids, having a friend a few miles away isn't a big deal. To some kids, they only have friends that are half-way across the country! But the troubling thing is that when you're a kid. You don't have a lot of transportation options. When you're a kid, riding a bike from the suburbs to downtown was much longer than a car drive. You can't ride a bus by yourself. You can't drive a car. You can't really go much of anywhere without adult supervision. This, of course, was never a problem when it came to Phineas and Ferb dragging Isabella up to space or back and forwards in time. But at least her mom knew she as at the museum or with Phineas and Ferb. And if she said, "I was in space today!" it would normally be taken as a joke of imagination, anyway. So to say, "Mom, can I go downtown to visit a friend?", you might as well be asking if you COULD go half-way across the country to visit a friend! Not if it wasn't on your mom's schedule to go there. Not if you're going alone. And now the boy Isabella loved so dearly, so passionately, was going that far away.

"Y..you sure you have to leave?", she asked. "That far away?"

"Yeah.. It's.. It's where my dad lives.", Phineas shrugged.

"...I'm really gonna miss you.", Isabella said sadly as tears started to fall down her face.

"..Well.. It..it won't be that bad.", Phineas tried to be optimistic. "I-I mean... Isabella, why are you crying about this?"

She couldn't help it and she tried to explain it, try to tell Phineas about her true feelings towards him and how much she loved him, but all she could do was stutter and beat about the bush and internally, she hated the fact that even now, she was too afraid to tell him.

Ferb, however, has had enough drama at this point to watch her never get around to saying it before seeing them leave. There was only 16 minutes left. So he did the one thing he had to do. He stood up and turned on Isabella to make sure that she wouldn't get out of it.

"Oh just say tell him already!", he exclaimed before going into the house and giving them their space.

The sudden shout from the normally quiet kid is always surprising. Like a mouse that roars. And once the surprise had settled, Phineas only turned to face Isabella, all thoughts gathered onto one question.

"What's that all about?", Phineas asked as Isabella's face became bright red. "Tell me what?"

"Um... W-well...", she stammered. How on earth could she say it? Now of all times? Would it ruin their friendship? Would he end up not loving her and actually WANTING to move away? Could she manage to say it without passing out?

Father Time was a very cruel man however as Candace called out from the house for Phineas to come in and get his things together. Their dad was coming in only a few minutes now. Feeling a pull to the house, it didn't seem like Phineas wasn't gonna stay around for Isabella to finally work up the guts to say anything. The two kids stood up, Phineas trying to hide his fear and worry now, more than ever as he looked back at his best friend.

"I...better get going..", he said.

"...Yeah..", she said, a little choked up as she blinked back tears.

With only a moment's hesitation, Phineas quickly leaned forward to kiss her on the cheek before running inside. He hoped that this finally goodbye to her, would not be missed by the action. With the girl still slightly stunned in the backyard, Phineas ran into the house where Candace was having last minute condolences from her friends as she had described her worries of the change of address.

"Hey, don't worry, Girl. I'll call you as often as possible, kay?", Stacey reassured, "And remember. People do change over the years. Maybe this won't be as bad as you think."

"I guess.", Candace said, not really moved by the words.

"Candace, I work nearby. I'll visit you when I can.", Jeremy said, kissing her on the forehead.

"Thanks, Jeremy.", she smiled a bit, feeling a bit more confident.

"Hey, I think he's here.", Jenny noticed, glancing out the window.

With a gasp, Candace leapt off the couch and was up at the window to see a white and purple pick-up truck coming down the road, somewhat slowly. It had to be him. And Candace could feel her heart clenching in an old and very familiar fear.

'"BEHOLD! The Toast-and-eggs-inator!"', the words rang in her ears with an explosion following after it.

"Candace?", Stacey asked, placing a hand on her shoulder. "You okay?"

Candace simply stared out the window in memory and then turned to the trio.

"You guys should probably start going. We're leaving in a few minutes."

Knowing it was the truth, the friends left. Jeremy only hung back long enough to kiss his girlfriend one last goodbye before heading out. The kids got their things and stepped out onto the porch as the car came up the driveway. And for the while, there was an odd moment, like time had stopped for the anticipation, slight excitement, and fear of this new person. This incarnation of their childhood that would come back into their lives as if from the dead. Of course Candace had to face-palm herself as Heinz tripped over his seat belt, falling straight onto the ground when he came out of his car.