With the campfire out, the tents and sleeping bags packed, and everyone squeezed into the car, they were finally ready to go - and everyone but Phineas and Ferb were anxious to get on the road.

Ferb turned the key.

"Umm... why isn't it starting?" Isabella asked. The color drained from Ferb's face.

"O-oops," he stammered. Phineas looked at him.

"What is it, Ferb?"

"We never turned the music off last night," he answered, his voice coming as a mortified whisper. "The battery is dead."

...

"What." Isabella pulled out her cell phone. "Great, and we don't have any service. What are we supposed to do now? Thanks a lot, guys."

Phineas stared at his lap.

"Sorry," he whispered. "Didn't mean to ruin your vacation. C'mon, Ferb and I will go look for help. If we're not back by six, get everything set back up. We might not be back tonight." The car fell silent.

"Be careful, guys," Isabella said finally.

"Yeah, Dinnerbell," Buford added, "don't get hurt."

"Indeed," Baljeet insisted.

xxxxx

"You know it's not your fault, right?" It was Ferb speaking.

"It was my idea to listen to music. I knew it would run the battery down."

"I'm the one who forget to turn it off," Ferb reminded him. Phineas fell silent. "Just don't blame yourself." They'd been walking for nearly an hour. Phineas had found a nearby road and were following it - but it seemed deserted. Phineas sighed.

"My feet are tired," he muttered. "I hate this. All I wanted to do was get together with our friends and have a good time. Now we're stuck in a forest who-knows-where, and everyone's mad at me. I wish I'd never even had this idea."

"I'm not mad at you."

"Thanks, Ferb. That really means a lot right now," Phineas said, smiling for the first time since they'd piled into the car that morning. Ferb fell silent again. "We'll always be friends, right?"

Ferb wasn't sure what had brought this question on, but he answered honestly anyway. "Of course, Phineas. That's one thing that will never change."

At about 7, the sun started to set. The boys had been walking all day and were glad to find a nearby clearing and start a fire.

"Wish we'd brought some food," Phineas said, stomach growling. Ferb nodded. "Hey, Ferb... what happened last night? I mean... you're usually so careful about stuff like turning off the radio."

"I was just... thinking."

"About what? Not to be nosy, I mean. Just, you're my brother, and I'm worried."

"You don't want to know," he said under his breath.

"What? I didn't hear you."

"Nothing," Ferb insisted.

"...Is this like when you switched the plans for the sundae machine? What was her name, Vanessa? Do you like someone?" Ferb could feel his cheeks burning.

"I - "

"Who is it? Ferb shook his head violently. "Okay, okay..."

"What were you thinking about earlier?" Ferb retaliated. "Don't say nothing." Now it was Phineas's turn to blush.

"Come on, let's get some sleep. We have a lot more walking to do."

Ferb woke up before Phineas again. They'd slept as they had the night before; shielding each other from the cold. And as before, Phineas had his thumb in his mouth. Ferb sighed. What could be bothering him that he couldn't tell his own brother?

"Ferb..." Phineas muttered in his sleep. Ferb froze, then pulled his brother closer to him. He had no idea what was on his brother's mind, but he'd be there for him if at all possible.

Ferb sat up and shook his brother's shoulder.

"Wake up," he said softly. "We have to go."

Phineas opened his eyes slowly, then jerked his thumb out of his mouth as if he hoped Ferb hadn't noticed. Ferb held out his hand, choosing not to comment - for now.

"All right, let's go," he agreed. "How much further could we have to go?"

"...Apparently a lot longer than I though," he griped five hours later. "Man, if we were 10 we would've made a hover board or something to make this easy and fun instead of killing our feet. Can we sit for a while?" They sat off the side of the road, on the ground. Phineas leaned against his brother. "I'm glad we're so close, Ferb. Y'know, most brothers would sooner beat each other up than sleep together." Ferb chuckled nervously; Phineas's face went beet red as he realized what he'd said. "N-not like that! Like we've been doing, sleeping next to each other. You know what I mean. A lot of brothers fight. I'm just glad we don't." Smiling, Ferb reached out and ruffled his brother's hair.

"I am too, kiddo."

"Pff, I'm older than you are!"

"So? I'm taller." They laughed. "You're the best brother a guy could ever ask for. I got really lucky."

A/n I told you it'd be up faster. A little shorter, but. I hope you enjoy. :3 Please review!