When Candace and Perry made it outside the snow fort was practically finished. Perry gave a low whistle of admiration. Ten feet tall at its highest point, with turrets at each corner and an ice drawbridge, it looked formidable. It could probably withstand gale-force winds and might not melt away until the end of April.

A triangular head crowned by a navy wool cap peered over the wall. "Oh, there you are, Perry and Candace! Do you like our fort?"

"It looks awesome, Phin! What'cha do-"

Perry never finished the sentence. A small, loosely-packed snowball sailed over the wall and smacked right into his mouth, exploding into a cloud of powdery white.

Candace saw Isabella smirk smugly from one of the turrets while Perry spluttered and coughed. Instinct took over and she yelled "You guys are so busted! I'm calling Mom!"

Perry coughed out "D-don't..."

Candace was shocked. "But, but, but, but, Perry... they just made you swallow a snowball!"

He coughed some more. "Yes... Yes... they... did..." He wiped his face clean with a parka sleeve and his eyes narrowed as he looked at her. "Call... but not Mom."

Candace was genuinely confused."What? Then whom am I calling? And why?"

"Get Stacy, Jeremy, Albert and Coltrane. I know what we're going to do today."

"And that would be..."

"Start making snowballs, Candace." He turned to the fort where six kids were grinning down at him. "You realize, of course, that this means war!"

He got pelted with a dozen more snowballs in reply.

Perry turned tail and ran after Candace to prepare for battle.

The battle for the snow fort was long and hard, lasting almost until sundown.

It fell to Candace to make the third attempt to infiltrate the fortress and capture the flag made from an old red tea towel with a broken-off car antenna as its pole. The besiegers were at a disadvantage, until Perry figured out the defenders' weak point. The rear of the fort was close enough to the house that someone slim enough to get in the narrow space could propel themselves up and get inside.

It would have been easier for her to jump down from an upper-story window, but Perry had vetoed that for two reasons. The first, of course, was safety. He was only seven in calendar years, but both mentally and legally Perry was an adult. He took his responsibilities seriously.

The second reason was simpler. Perry had been raised by Phineas to believe in fair play. Going into the house for anything but snacks or bathroom breaks was tantamount to cheating.

Candace didn't quite agree with that but she was outvoted. Still, she managed to get up the back of the fort easily enough. Her companions were busy flinging a flurry of snowballs to distract the defenders while she slunk along the parapet. Getting up on tiptoe she took the flag from its turret. She came close to falling over and put her hand on the gutter to keep herself steady.

The gentle touch was too much for the layer of snow on the roof – warmed and softened by the bright sun – to keep its delicate equilibrium any longer. A small avalanche slid down, overwhelming Candace, making her lose her balance to land inside the fort and burying her in a large snow pile.

The flurry of flying and disintegrating snowballs was almost blinding but Perry saw the red rag go down.

"YES!" he cried, "We have your flag!"

Phineas turned and saw the flag was gone. "Hold your fire, troops! We've been outmaneuvered!"

A chorus of "Awww!" greeted this revelation. Phineas turned to his former pet and returned Perry's respectful salute. "Well played, Perry! We'll come out now."

The fort's melting drawbridge went down after a few minutes of effort and Perry the conqueror entered his new domain. It had been fun, really.

Buford's voice cut through his satisfaction. "Dude, the flag wasn't taken! It's back there in a snow pile!"

Isabella looked around and asked "Hey... where's Candace?"

They all looked about. Ferb hit Perry with the back of a hand and pointed at the mounded snow. Perry felt a hand of jagged ice squeeze his heart when he saw a pink snow boot poking out from one end.

"Oh no... Candy!" He ran to the pile and started digging with his hands. The others joined in and they quickly uncovered her.

Her eyes were closed and her lips had already turned slightly blue. Perry tore off his gloves with his teeth and pulled her close, brushing snow away from her face. "Candy... talk to me, Candy!"

Her blue eyes opened. "S-s-s-so c-c-c-c-cold-d-d-d... D-d-d-did we win...?"

Perry almost fainted with relief. "Yeah... we won, thanks to you. Let's get you inside and warm." He lifted her up and carried her all the way to the upstairs bathroom.

Once in the bathroom he stripped her down to her underwear. He was shocked to find that instead of wearing a training bra her chest was tightly bandaged. Once he got the bandage unwound he could see she hadn't sustained any injuries – so why was she wrapped up like that?

Candace was barely responsive so, leaving the questions for later, he stripped to his own shorts and pulled her into the shower with him. It was awkward, getting the water on while keeping her upright, but he managed it. She whimpered when the barely-lukewarm water hit her and clung to him.

Perry called out "Ferb! Get me the ear thermometer. Phin, toss a beach towel in the dryer to warm it up! Where are the others?"

Phineas answered "I sent them home, but Isabella and Stacy are still here. Stacy called her mom."

"Good, can you have Isabella make some cocoa? We have to warm Candy inside as well as outside."

The Fireside Girls' Troop Leader replied "I'm on it!"

Perry turned his attention back to Candace. She was trembling. That was a good sign. He leaned over and carefully increased the water's temperature. Her trembling subsided somewhat and she whimpered "Perry...?"

The soft little sound had an instant effect on Perry. He tried to shift Candace so she wouldn't notice the erection she had accidentally provoked, but she only whimpered again and pressed herself closer. He decided to concentrate on warming her up and think of his own reactions later. He murmured, more for his own benefit than hers, "It's all right, Candy... everything's going to be all right," as he kissed her temple in what he hoped came off as a comforting way.

Stacy stepped in. "I told my mom what happened. She says you're doing it right, and to give her something for the pain from the fall."

"Thanks, Stacy." Perry knew exactly what he was doing but Dr. Hirano's seal of approval made him feel better.

Ferb finally arrived with the thermometer. Perry moved the shower head to the side and motioned for Ferb to take a reading while Perry kept Candace upright, her chest against his to protect her modesty as far as possible. The reading was too low for Perry's liking so he turned the water onto himself and Candace and hiked the temperature again.

"Phineas, did you get that warm towel?"

The triangle-headed boy piped up. "It's right here!"

Perry turned the water away. "Good! Ferb, take another reading." This time it was closer to normal and Perry sighed in relief. "Phin, get her bed ready. Ferb, I need some clothes. Stacy, give me a hand, I'm getting her out now."

Stacy wrapped Candace in the large warm towel and led her to the bedroom. Once they had gone Perry returned to the shower and set the water to a much colder temperature for a couple of minutes before closing the valve and getting out to dry himself off.

He was not looking forward to explaining this to their parents.