Chap 3:
Later that evening.
Phineas, Isabella and their children arrived at the Johnson house. "Candace, it's good to see you again." Isabella greeted her sister-in-law.
As Phineas was telling everyone about the interview, leaving out the fact that Ferb is effectively his new boss. Candace came in with a tray of appetizers. "I'm going to check on the kids." She said.
Amanda and Sian were in her room. Amanda was playing with the little girl's hair. "You've got green highlights though your hair. That's so cool." Amanda continued to apply some make up to the five-year old's face. Sian heard a car out front and looked out the window. "Daddy's company car is here." She said and ran from the room.
A limo pulled up in front of the house, Ferb and Alison got out and walked up the drive. The front door was flung open and Sian dashed out of the house and ran into her father's arms. "Daddy! Mummy!" She screamed. Ferb lifted his daughter up and took a look at her. "Are you wearing make-up?" Sian's blue eyes went wide and a smile crossed her face. "Amanda did it for me. She said we're going out to a fancy restaurant and I had to look pretty." Ferb and Alison smiled. "Amanda said my hair is 'cool'." Sian said as they entered the house.
"Ferb, Alison" Candace greeted them as they walked in and closed the door. "Thank you for picking up the kids today Candace. That was a huge help." Alison said. "It was no problem. Amanda has been entertaining Sian and the boys were playing with Devon. He got mad when I told him he couldn't play with the building bricks." Candace replied. Ferb snickered. "He's been playing with them since he was six-months old." Candace's eyes went wide then she shook her head. "I should have known. He really is your son isn't he Ferb?" Ferb nodded.
Sian disappeared back up the stairs and the adults went into the living room. "Tonight's reservation is for 7pm. I hope that's okay for the kids." Jeremy said. Alison checked her watch, 430pm. "Sian and Devon should have a nap and a bite to eat first then."
Amanda came downstairs and greeted her Aunt and Uncle. "I've gotten Sian dressed up for tonight." She then pointed to the stairs where a five-year-old brunette was taking each step carefully. She was wearing a red frilly dress and matching mini-healed sandals. Sian was beaming. "Stop right there! Let me get my camera." Candace called out. Phineas and Isabella looked at their niece. Isabella scowled. "She's wearing heals? Isn't she a bit young for heals?" Phineas looked at his brother who had his eyes closed and a pained expression on his face. "She'll be fine Isabella." Ferb said calmly.
The kids went to the play room to play for a little bit before they had to go out. The adults sat in the living room, no one spoke.
"How did the interview go Phin?" Jeremy asked, trying to get a conversation started. "It was good." Phineas said tentatively. "I got the job." He finished and glanced over at Ferb who nodded slightly. "That's great news. So, what's the job?" Jeremy inquired. Phineas started rubbing the back of his neck. "It's, ah… Umm… I'll be…" Phineas stammered. "Phineas will be working in research and development." Ferb stated matter of factly. All of a sudden all eyes were on the green-haired man. "What do you know about this?" Isabella demanded. Ferb raised an eyebrow at her. "I know a fair deal. I work for the same company." That had the desired effect, in Ferb's opinion. Isabella just sat in her seat, mouth agape and eyes wide. She was speechless. "Phineas is now able to work on his big ideas with full backing from an international company."
"You know an awful lot about this Ferb." Isabella said, not without disdain. Ferb shrugged his shoulders. "Look here Fletcher! You're being an arrogant ass. You show up after ten years…" Isabella started. "We got married eight years ago." Ferb said calmly. Isabella actually growled at him. "Fine. You show up after eight years, you get out of a limo… who does that?" She ranted. Ferb patted Alison's hand and he looked over to Jeremy who nodded. "I have access to the company car when I'm on business." Ferb replied. Then speaking under his breath, with his hand covering his face. "I also have access to the company jet."
Isabella stared at Ferb for a moment. "What did you just say?" Ferb blinked. "I have access to the company car when I'm on business." He repeated. Isabella crossed her arms over her chest. "The last part. What was the last part." She almost yelled. Ferb rolled his head then answered her. "I also have access to the company jet." Isabella's eyes went wide as she looked at Phineas then to Ferb and back to her husband. "Company jet? Company car? What, are you the president of the company!" She exploded. Ferb glanced at his wife and with a small smirk looked back at Isabella. "No. There is no "president" or CEO of the company. We're just a few friends who thought we'd start up a company for shits and giggles and before we knew it, we were running with the big boys internationally. I guess you could say I'm head of Research and Development. I'm in charge of creation and implementation of ideas."
"I hate you Ferb!" Isabella yelled. "Here I thought Phineas was interviewing for a great job with a great company. Then I find out that you're his boss. That's what you've always wanted isn't it? You never got over the fact that he's more creative than you." She started crying. Ferb stood up and left the room, Alison and Candace followed.
Phineas sat stunned. "Iz, you know that's not true." He said. "He's jealous of you. He's always been jealous of you, and for good reason. You've always been the better one." Isabella told him. "I need…. Some fresh air. I'll be back in a few minutes." Phineas whispered and went outside.
Ferb was leaning up against the side of the house. "There you are." Candace said as she came up to him. He made an exasperated noise in response. "I had hoped that…" Ferb started and shook his head. "That, we'd all grown up. That we could all act like adults." Alison came over to her husband. "Honey, I know you wanted to reconcile with him." She consoled. "Well, that's apparently not going to happen is it?" Ferb replied. "Ferb, we have grown up. It's just that some people… enjoy living in the past." Candace said. "Can I tell you something?" The redhead inquired. Ferb nodded. "Growing up, I was a little jealous of you. You had a great relationship with our brother. You were wise beyond your years, you were virtually an adult since I met you and you were smart. Dammit Ferb, you were so smart that you could figure out what Phineas was saying before he even finished saying it. When you left, there was such a hole in the family. Then when I ran into you at the mall that day… I was overjoyed to have found you again. I didn't want you to leave, but I saw how happy you were. I couldn't take that from you. You had changed so much, and for the better. You were more confident in yourself, you had your own friends, you even had a girlfriend… whom, I'm glad to say, you married." Candace continued. "You guys have a great family. You're kids are so sweet and adorable. I might have to keep them here for a year or so." Candace started to laugh, so did Alison. Ferb remained stoic, he then heard someone talking.
Phineas walked around the house and leaned against the garage, right around the corner from where Candace, Alison and Ferb were standing. "Ferb." Phineas said to himself. "Isabella thinks that you're jealous of me. It's not true is it? You've never said anything if that is the case. I remember you saying that you felt as though you never got recognition, I tried to include you as much as you'd let me. There were times you made that difficult. I'm sorry I didn't believe you when you said you were not the father of what's her face's child. I should have believed you, you were… you are my brother. It's my fault you moved away. It's my fault, it's all my fault. I wish we could be a family again. I'd like to get to know the woman who stole my brother's heart, she must be something special. I'd like to get to know your kids, my niece and nephew.
Candace stepped around the side of the house and saw her biological brother leaned up against the garage talking to himself. She stepped over to him and tapped him on the shoulder. Phineas jumped and his eyes went wide. Candace motioned that he follow her around the side of the house.
Phineas stepped around the house and saw Ferb and Alison. "How much did you hear?" Alison looked to her husband, then turned to Phineas. "We heard everything." She said. Phineas rubbed the back of his neck. "Ferb?" He said. Ferb looked at him. "Not now Phineas. Give me some time to think." Ferb then walked away. Phineas stood beside the house looking at the ground. "He wants to reconcile the past you know." Alison told him. Phineas looked at her. "I'm sorry Alison. I want to get to know your family. I want… Who cares what I want." He said and leaned up against the house. Candace placed her hand on Alison's shoulder then left to find Ferb.
Alison stepped closer to Phineas and stood beside him. "It's important to let people know what you want. You can't please others without pleasing yourself first. You have to be understanding and accepting." She said. Phineas looked at her, he's just noticed that she's taller than he is. "You sound just like Ferb." He said. Alison smiled and laughed lightly. "Well, we've been together 14 years. I'm not surprised we've got a few similarities. Why don't you see if he'd like to get together for drinks before dinner?" She said. Phineas shook his head. "I'd be willing to, but would he?" Phineas then heard a 'thump', he turned to Alison who was standing there with her head against the house. She was laughing. "What's so funny?" He asked. "You two are more alike than either of you'll ever admit. I'll go find him and tell him you're going out." Alison said and went to find Ferb.
Alison spotted her husband through the kitchen window, she entered through the patio door. As she walked into the kitchen she announced "Ferb, you're going out with your non-biological twin." He looked over and raised an eyebrow. Isabella came over. "What are you talking about." Alison looked at the shorter woman. "I'm sending the boys out for aperitifs. Would you care to join them?" Isabella's mouth was moving but no sound emerged for a few seconds. "Why don't you people speak English!" She accused. Alison's mouth twitched in amusement. She turned to her husband. "Je ne sais pas. Dis moi, c'est pourquois qu'on ne parle pas l'Anglais?" (I don't know. Tell me, why is it we don't speak English?) Ferb's eyes went momentarily wide then he burst out laughing.
Phineas came into the house and heard Ferb laughing. He then saw Isabella standing looking at Alison with a look of bewilderment. "You're such a bitch!" Isabella yelled to Alison, who smiled back at the raven haired woman. "You have no idea." She replied with a smile. "What did you say to him?" Isabella demanded indicating Ferb with a nod of her head. The brunette took a slight step to the right. "I merely posed your question to him." Phineas stepped over. "Posed what question?" Isabella glared at Alison "She said that you and him…" She, again, indicated Ferb with a nod of the head. "… are going out for apert… I don't know, but I told her to speak English. She said something to him…" she indicated Ferb once again. "… that caused him to laugh."
Phineas shook his head, glanced sideways at Isabella, then addressed his brother across the room. "Hey Ferb. How about we go out for drinks before dinner?" Ferb raised his eyebrow and looked at Alison who nodded once. "Would that be as family or as colleagues?" Ferb replied. Phineas was shocked. "As brothers. I need to catch up with you, it's been six years… that's a long time. We both have our own families now. You come to town and arrange to see Candace, Jeremy, Mom and Dad but you've not contacted us." Phineas said indicating himself and Isabella. Ferb sighed. "True, recently I've not bothered to call. That's because when I did call either someone would hang up or no one would return the call after I left a message."
Phineas' eyes went wide. "I never got any messages from you." He then looked to Isabella. "Izy, do you know anything?" She shrugged a shoulder. "Who cares? We're busy taking care of our family Phineas, we don't have time to drop everything just because someone's in town for a day or two."
Jeremy came into the kitchen and asked if anyone would like anything. "I'll check and see if the younger ones would like something to drink before we leave for dinner." Candace said.
Phineas and Isabella took a seat in the living room. Alison and Ferb stepped through from the kitchen with Jeremy.
"You ruined my wedding!" Isabella shrieked as she leapt to her feet and crossed over to where Ferb was standing. His eyes went wide. "You barged in, in the first place making unreasonable demands!" Ferb gave up and yelled back. Isabella made the mistake of getting in Ferb's face. "Back of Bella. I mean it." He whispered dangerously. "Ha! What are you going to do?" She taunted. "Can't we all just calm down?" Phineas pleaded as he stood up and tried to place his hand on his wife's arm. "Please Izy. Calm down. What's done is done. Don't ruin anything else." Phineas begged. "Why should I calm down? Every time something goes wrong he's involved." Isabella spun on her husband, and pointed at Ferb.
**Flashback**
At the front of the Great Hall two young men were waiting for the tandem wedding to start. "Thanks bro, Isabella felt it necessary to, you know, hurry up and get married." The green haired man looked at his stepbrother "I must admit that when you two first called to inquire about this, I wasn't thrilled. Alison and Candace agreed that we had booked a large enough venue and most everyone was going to be here anyway that it would be fine." The red-headed man started fiddling with his tie. "I'm sorry Ferb." The taller man looked at him, the shorter one continued "I'm encroaching again aren't I?" Ferb looked at his shoes. "I. I still don't like the idea. In my mind today is Alison's day; however, logically it does make sense. You two were going to be here anyway for us and you've got imminent reason to get married." The redhead looked at his brother "Ferb, don't say that. You've known you were in love with Alison long before I knew how in love with Isabella I was. I shouldn't have told Isabella that it was all right. I should have… she should have… we should have planned our own wedding." The older brother smiled a little and with a chuckle said, "I heard Isabella is not very happy with Alison's' choices of dresses, colours, flowers, and all those other things I don't understand." Phineas looked worried. "You're not nervous? I'm a wreck. How can you be so calm?" Ferb discarded many thoughts before he spoke, and while looking up at assembled friends and family with a serious tone replied "I'm terrified, though, don't tell anyone but I snuck a nip about 20 minutes ago."
**End Flashback**
Candace walked into the room "The kids are busy in the playroom. Are you still going on about this? It's been eight years people."
Isabella shot out of her seat again. "So, you agree with them?" She yelled pointing at Ferb and Alison. Candace looked to her step-brother and his wife. "That's not the point. However, yes. I agree. You were pregnant at the time; that's why they let you have the tandem wedding. That and you called them six weeks prior to their date and made the demand. That was not enough time to re-organize everything to make you happy. I tried explaining this to you at the time, and many times after. Alison chose blue as her colour and you wanted your girls to wear pink." Isabella motioned to interrupt but Candace was having none of that, she was getting her say in while she could. "Ah, ah, ah. You knew they were getting married in England. That was no secret. I was helping them plan for two years Isabella, two years to plan a wedding. I was also planning my own at the same time if you remember."
**Flashback**
Candace and Alison were sitting at the kitchen table in the house Alison shared with Ferb going over Candace's "Wedding Binder". "We've got the castle booked and paid for. We've got confirmation from 150 guests. We've got the caterer booked and paid. The cake is chosen, and deposit placed. The photographer is booked, and a deposit was put down. The flowers are on order. Your bouquet will be six purple and six white roses with some baby's breath. My bouquet will be four purple roses and Ferb and Jeremy will each have a boutonnière; Ferb's will be purple and Jeremy's will be white. The DJ will be there from 7pm until 5am. I know it's a ten hour booking, though the alternative was a four hour booking. Besides, there's only a 75£ difference. Your dress, is being custom made. My dress is on order with a final fitting in five weeks. Let's see... License, rings, officiator... Did Ferb make arrangements for him and Jeremy to get fitted?" Alison was stunned. Candace had everything organized. "I'm sure they've taken care of that. Let me just check. Ferb? Can you come in for a minute?"
Ferb was in his workshop working on an engine that he was trying to modify when he was called into the kitchen. As he entered the kitchen he raised an eyebrow, he knew his sister was over, taking over the wedding preparations. "Did you get your kilt and jacket fitted yet?" Candace inquired of him the moment she saw him walk in. Ferb nodded. "And Jeremy? Did he get his?" She continued. Ferb stood for a brief moment then replied. "Yes he's been fitted for his jacket. He mentioned something about not looking forward to getting his pants fitted in a few months for his own wedding."
Candace scowled at him. "He'll manage." She said as Ferb casually walked back to his workshop.
The phone rang and Alison answered. "Hello? Phineas, hi. Ferb's working on something right now. Just a moment, I'll call him in." Alison put the phone on the table and called to Ferb to pick up the other extension.
In the workshop, Ferb grabbed the receiver from the shelf. "Hello?" He listened to what his brother had to say. His eyes went wide and he threw the phone. It exploded against the wall of the workshop.
"Ferb calm down, it can't be that bad." Candace said. "He thinks he can just call me up and... Forget it! I don't care! Whatever you decide!" Ferb was livid. Alison was holding the receiver. "Let's talk this over like rational adults." She replied. Ferb's face was turning red, he was so angry. "RATIONAL? There is nothing rational about that request. They're just being lazy! This wedding is for you Alison. Not my brother and his girlfriend!" He yelled as he pointed to the phone.
"If Isabella goes along with the colour scheme we've agreed upon, it shouldn't make that much difference." Candace said as she was trying to show Ferb the 'plan' for the wedding. "The venue is large enough, and it's beautiful. We'll just have to get a few final numbers from her side of the family within the next couple of days and notify the caterer of the changes. I'll have to order a second wedding cake, though the baker was very accommodating the first time around. I can bring home the photos of the bridesmaid dress, she can make arrangements for her girls to get fitted. She'll have to help them out with the cost of the rush order. And if we split the cost of everything else, you'll be able to enjoy an extra week together for your honeymoon."
Candace looked to her green-haired brother. "Ferb." She said calmly. "Our entire family is coming over to see you get married. I know originally, Phineas was supposed to be your best man but Isabella's pregnant and therefore, he can't. I'll make it work. As long as she goes along with the current plan, everything will be fine.
Ferb shook his head. "I don't like this idea, but if you say it'll work... I trust you." He said to his sister.
Candace nodded to Alison who tentatively spoke with Phineas. "Candace said that she'll make it work. She'll bring some photos home with her and go over the colours and the plan with you and Isabella. Cheerio." She hung up the phone.
Ferb leaned up against the wall. "In my mind this is your wedding Alison."
**End Flashback**
"Candace, please." Alison stood up. "It's my fault. I forced Ferb to stay in England, away from his family and friends. I know he missed his brother and…" she couldn't finish. Jeremy offered a box of tissues and she took one. Ferb stepped over to his wife. "You didn't force me to do anything. I didn't want to return State-side full time, I truly wanted to stay in the UK." He finished with a small smile as he wiped away a couple of fresh tears from her eyes.
"You're saying you wanted to stay in England? Why would you do that Ferb?" Phineas spoke up, and immediately regretted what he said when his sister-in-law turned away and reached for another tissue. "Alison, I'm sorry." He said making a motion to go to her when Isabella grabbed his wrist.
Ferb was trying to ebb the flow of tears the love of his life was shedding. "Phineas." He shook his head. "You don't get it do you? I knew that coming here was a mistake."
Ferb walked down the hallway to the playroom and looked inside. Amanda (12), Xavier (7), Fred (6), Sian (5), Fiona (7) and Cassandra (5) were all playing a game. Devon (3) was sitting off in a corner playing with some toy cars. "What does your Dad do Sian? Where does he work?" One of the Flynn children asked, Ferb doesn't know who she is. "My Daddy works in his special room, he makes potato type things. That's why we came on vacation with him. He's going to talk with important people about the potato type things." The rest of the kids nod. "So, Uncle Ferb is a chef?" Fred inquired.
Jeremy walked up to Ferb and gave him a questioning look and mouthed "Potato type things?" Ferb couldn't help but smile a little. "She can't quite say prototype."
"Alison?" Phineas started, "What does he mean a mistake?" He finished. She looked from him to Isabella and back again. She wiped away a couple more tears and said "We never wanted to cause a rift in the family. All we ever wanted was everyone to get along. He feels as though he's not welcome. Candace and Jeremy have tried over the years to abate that thought, they've had little success."
"Well, he doesn't exactly make it easy, he lives in England." Isabella said. Candace looked at her. "Have you ever asked if you could visit them? We've been over twice and I know Mom and Dad have been over at least five times." Alison nodded agreement, and Candace continued. "Ferb's stayed over what? Six times in the past three years alone while on business? Then as a family," Candace looked to Alison for confirmation. "you've come over four times in the past eight years?" Alison again nodded agreement.
Jeremy and Ferb walked out through the garage and into the front yard. "Is Devon always that quiet Ferb?" Ferb nodded and replied. "He's quite like someone else we both know. He's just as, if not smarter than his sister. I'm sorry to cut this visit short, Jeremy. However, I think it best if we just leave. I've got meetings all week. I'll call Mum and Dad and wish them a Happy 25th."
Alison looked around the room and wandered down the hallway to the playroom where she could hear the kids starting to yell at each other. Candace checked to see if she's out of earshot.
"They're under the impression that you don't like them." Candace pointed out. Isabella shook her head. "Ever the observant one." She laughed "Excuse me? He's my brother, what would make him think that?" Phineas interjected. "I don't know, maybe because you never returned his calls. Or let him know when your children were born. He's never met them you know." Candace replied.
"He never let us know when his children were born either." Isabella retorted. Candace checked the hallway again. "He called you first when Sian was born." Candace said gently and looked to her brother. "Apparently, someone hung up the phone. He then called Mom and Dad, then us. When Devon was born, he only called us as Mom and Dad had gone over to help." She finished.
Ferb and Jeremy came back into the house. "How are the wee ones?" Ferb inquired of Alison at the door to the playroom. "They're starting a row."
"I don't know who you are but you're not my cousin. If you were we would play together every day!" A red-headed young girl yelled at Sian. "YES I AM!" She screamed back. "Auntie Candace said so!" The little girl finished as she stood up with her hands firmly planted on her hips and tears in her eyes. That brought the rest of the adults running.
Devon quietly looked around the room and found two foam swords. "Sian!" was all he said as he tossed one her way. She caught it with an agility that stunned Fiona and Cassandra and pointed it at the older of the two. Now that Sian had chosen her adversary, Devon tossed the other foam sword to Fiona.
"Fiona! What are you doing?" Isabella yelled as she entered the playroom. "Teaching this little girl a lesson." Fiona, the red-headed girl, replied. Sian took this opportunity to lunge and, with a flick of the wrist, flipped the foam sword out of Fiona's hand. Cassandra, a black-haired little girl, screamed in fury and grabbed for the braid Sian's hair was tied in. The brunette couldn't move very well with two attackers on her, but before anyone could intervene, she reached over and tickled Cassandra who was holding the braid then whipped her head around and smacked the braid across the face of Fiona, who made the mistake of getting too close.
"Girls!" Alison called. "What is the meaning of this?" She finished as she placed herself between an angry Fiona and a furious Sian. "She!" Sian growled with a death glare in her eyes as she pointed at Fiona "She said I talk funny, that I don't have a real name, that my hair is ugly, that I'm stupid. AND THAT I'M NOT PART OF THE FAMILY!" Sian cried as she finished.
Phineas made a move to take his daughter by the hand. Candace looked to Isabella "That's what I'm referring to."
"The car will be here any minute now. Time to get ready." Ferb announced to his children. Devon picked up a few toys and put them away. Sian shot a glare at Fiona, spun on her heel, and put the foam swords away then left the playroom. "I'm sorry Candace. I'll call you later." Ferb said as he left the room.
When Phineas looked up, Ferb, Alison and their children were no longer in the playroom. He made his way to the front door. "Ferb, I had no idea." He said and noticed that his niece and nephew were silently crying. "I'll have a talk with the girls. You're coming to dinner tonight right?" Ferb helped Devon with his jacket, then shook his head. "I think we'll just leave tonight alone; if it's all the same to you. Congratulations by the way." Ferb said.
"We'll be seeing you tomorrow?" Phineas asked. Ferb shook his head. "No. I'll make arrangements for everyone to head back home in the morning. I've got meetings this week, I should get my presentations ready." Ferb replied.
There was a knock on the door, Ferb opened the front door to his sister's house and escorted his family out to the car. "Where are Sian and Devon going?" Fred inquired of his father at the door as the family in question were getting into the limousine that had pulled up in front of the house. Jeremy placed his hand on his son's shoulder "They're going back home." He said sadly.
"Candace, do something." Phineas pleaded. She went outside and tapped Ferb on the shoulder. "Please reconsider. You are a part of the family. All of you are. If not for me, please stay for Mom and Dad. I'll have another talk with Isabella, though I think after Sian's demonstration she's starting to see the situation."
Ferb ran a hand through his hair and sighed. "I'll consider it. We'll see how we feel about this in the morning. If Alison and the wee ones want to leave, I'm not going to stop them." He said as he stepped into the car before it drove away.
"What did he say?" Phineas asked as his sister re-entered the house. "He said he'll consider staying. Everything depends on how his family feels in the morning." She said in reply as she stepped past her brother and went to the living room.
"Mom, where are Aunt Alison and Uncle Ferb going? I never got the chance to thank them for the gift." Amanda said walking into the room with the gift bag. She pulled out a small purse. Next she pulled out two wallets. "These must be for Xavier and Fred." Amanda then started to search the tissue papers and found two small flat boxes. Inside one was a necklace with a ladybug charm, the other had a necklace with a butterfly charm. "These must be for Fiona and Cassandra." Amanda looked to her parents.
"How does he do that?" Isabella said. "I'm mad as hell at him for something that's not even his fault and yet he does this." She finished with a sniff and went to give Phineas a hug, but he stepped away. "What did he do to make you so angry in the first place?" Phineas asked his wife. "He agreed that we could all get married." She said defeatedly. "If they had declined, I would have been mad, sure; but I would have gotten over it. He's right, I was the one who ruined their wedding; and in turn ruined my own." She finished.
"Who were those strange kids?" Fiona asked as she walked into the room. Phineas sat her down on the couch and squatted in front of her. "They are your cousins. Ferb is my brother and they're his children." He said. "Why do they talk funny?" She asked. "They're from England, honey. They probably think that we're the ones who talk funny." He replied. "Phineas, she's too young to have everything explained to her." Isabella replied. He looked up at her from where he was squatted. "I was four years old when Mom and Dad got married. I think Fiona can handle the explanation." Phineas said.
Cassandra and the three young Johnsons came into the room. Phineas took a more comfortable seat and Candace handed him an old photo album. "You see, Candace and I have the same parents. However, our parents decided that they didn't love each other any more and our father left when I was only a year old or so. After a few years Mom, your grandmother, met Lawrence, your grandfather. Lawrence had moved from England with his son after he and his wife got a divorce. When I was four years old my mother married him, and Ferb became my step-brother." Phineas' children looked at him and Fiona said "Okay, that explains why you call him your brother, but doesn't explain why he lives in England now."
Phineas looked at his daughters and smiled. "That's a tale he'll have to tell. You can ask him tomorrow when you see him." Candace handed the phone to her brother. "If I were you I wouldn't make promises I can't keep. Call him, and hope that you're right."
