When Phineas decided to leave the lab, he came back into the living room and suddenly noticed something odd. He saw Ferb and Vanessa quietly sitting on opposite ends of the couch and as Phineas saw Ferb he realized, he couldn't tell his brother about Perry. He made a promise to tell NO ONE but.. it would be a first to keep a secret from his brother. Something he knew that Ferb didn't.

Ferb looked over and gave a puzzled look to Phineas' stare at him. Phineas finally blinked and shook his head a bit and smiled.

"Hey, Ferb. Hey Vanessa.", he said.

Ferb gave a nod, Vanessa was wearing her ear buds so she didn't hear Phineas. Her nod to the beat though, seemed to be a nod to him so Phineas accepted it. Heinz and a blank-faced Perry soon came in as well.

Heinz looked about the room. He walked over and tapped Vanessa on the shoulder. Vanessa looked up at her dad and took out her ear buds.

"Yeah, Dad?", she asked in half annoyance.

"Vanessa, you didn't see where Robert is, did you?"

"Um.. Yeah. I think he's hanging out on the balcony."

"Right here.", Bloodpudding said, coming in.

"Oh. So, are you staying for dinner?", Heinz asked.

As the two talked, Phineas sat down next to Ferb, though still feeling rather odd for not telling his brother about their pet.

"Oh, there you are, Perry.", Ferb said, noticing the platypus walking by before Ferb picked him up and sat him on the couch.

Phineas watched, but then was worried. Ferb's eyes were hollow-like and red from crying. Even now, a tear slipped by.

"Ferb, you alright?", Phineas asked, earning a nod as Ferb quickly wiped his eyes. "...okay."

"Yeah, I guess I see your point.", Heinz shrugged as they wrapped up the conversation. "Real busy and whatnot."

"Ah with an enemy.. You know how they are.", Robert shrugged with a smile.

Heinz chuckled a bit and gave a nod.

"Yeah, I know, right? Always have to have everything going JUST RIGHT."

"Exactly. Guess I'll see you guys later on this week. Later Phineas.", Robert gave Phineas a hug from behind and ruffled Ferb's hair. "See ya, Ferb. Say, where's Candace?"

"In her room.", Ferb answered.

Robert glanced over at the door, but wasn't sure if he should intrude. He and Heinz exchanged glances and Doof only shrugged.

"Mm. I'll just pop in for a quick goodbye.", Robert shrugged before walking over.

He knocked on the door and after a moment, Candace's muffled reply allowed him in.

Candace looked up from her bed as her uncle walked in the room.

"I'm on my way out.", Bloodpudding began. "I thought I should come in and say goodbye.

"...Bye.", Candace said softly, turning her head away.

"You've been saying good-bye a lot lately, haven't you?", Robert observed.

Candace didn't reply, but she tucked her legs in tighter, not wanting to show the tears in her eyes. Robert came over to the bed and sat down, understanding that Candace was still being upset.

"Candace..?", he began softly. "I hate saying good-bye. But you know I'll be coming back soon."

"...If you hate it so much, then how do you stand for it?", she sniffled.

Robert sighed and looked down at the floor.

"...many years of practice, I learned how to just...never say anything at all.", he simply said.

Candace finally looked back at him and Robert looked up. He gave a small smile and opened his arms. Candace crawled into them, suddenly remembering how she did so when she was so young. He hugged her close and gently stroked her hair.

"I still love you.", he said. "We all do."

"...I just.."

"Hate good-byes?"

"...mm-hmm.", she gave a small nod, a tear slipping onto his labcoat.

"It'll be okay.", he said gently. "I know, it hurts. And you don't believe me. But I've lost a loved one too. The pain will soon be gone. I promise."

"...okay."

After a moment, they finally let go and Robert left the apartment building. He looked back one more time, thinking about Candace, and what a sister she was like to him. He remembered his own little sister, he lost so many years ago. How he had told Linda of such a tragedy, and how Candace seemed to replace the hole. He remembered being told he couldn't see Candace again, and then getting to see her again at the funeral. He probably knew better than anyone there, what it must've felt like for Candace to lose Linda. But what he said was true. Good-byes can be a horrible thing, but the pain will subside. And in a sense, a good-bye is only temporary. He hoped the kids would feel better soon, and looked forward to when he could visit again.

After Robert had left, Candace had finally come out of her room, and everyone started to try and pick up the pieces again. Heinz started working on lunch, Vanessa filled Phineas and Ferb in on who all was going to be at the family reunion tomorrow, and Candace sat quietly in chair in the corner of the room, thinking over what her uncle had said. She really didn't want to believe that this pain, this hurt in her chest, this cold loneliness, would ever just..go away. But he said he lost someone too. So with Mother Ocelot on her lap, warm and furry, and listening in on the plans of tomorrow, she eased back in the chair, and tried to deter her mind of sadder memories. Maybe she really should give everyone a chance. Maybe she can become accustomed to this new life-style. Maybe..

*CRASH!*

*CLANG!*

*THUD!*

"DAD?!", Vanessa, Phineas, and Candace exclaimed at once as Heinz tumbled backwards out of the kitchen with an ocelot on his chest.

"Rrrr! Come on! Ha ha! Very funny! You can stop with the pranks now!", he growled at the cat and shooed him off.

The ocelot brother walked off, tail high in the air and a pleasant smile on his face. The ocelot on Candace's lap gave a loud hiss and the brother flinched in fear and then hung his head in shame.

"...WHY are they here, again?", Candace asked, trying to keep a growl out of her own throat.

"The family reunion.", Vanessa said, equally skeptical of the idea of keeping an entire family of wild cats in the house. "They ARE Dad's temporarily adopted family."

"...Whatever.", Candace sighed, rolling her eyes and effectively shoving off the ocelot from her lap.

She stood up and walked off to another room, declaring she was going to make a phone call.

Later that night, after dinner and almost everyone's gone to bed, Heinz was just finishing up putting Norm into sleep-mode when he saw the balcony door was open. He walked out into the cool Summer night and saw Ferb leaning over the side, staring out into the bright lights of the city.

"Whatcha doin up so late?", Heinz began, suddenly startling the boy.

Ferb whipped around and for a moment looked scared until he relaxed some at the sight of Phineas' dad. The boy gave a shrug and Heinz seemed unconvinced.

"Look, Ferb was it? I'm just wanting to help.", he said, walking over and leaning against the railing. "I know, I'm not your dad, and I'm not even trying to be. But I don't want things to be so formal or awkward between us, just because of that. I'd like to at least HOPE I'd be lucky enough that you'd want to be my friend. So, help me out here. What's on your mind?"

Ferb was quiet for a moment. He didn't really know if he should really blather his problems to a stranger. He knew it was alright to trust the man, that wasn't the issue. He just didn't really know Doofenshmirtz well enough to tell him his troubles. The mourning over yesterday. The tragic death of his mother so many years ago. But maybe his guard was down just enough that he was making a face, because Doof spoke up again.

"Or is it because of YOUR father?", he asked.

Ferb looked over and gave a small nod.

"Hurts, huh?"

Ferb took a moment, tried to swallow the lump in his throat, and then began softly, "It's not so much as the pain of a lost one, as it is the continued pain of past loss."

Heinz felt a prick in his heart and gave the expression that showed such. Ferb sighed and looked back out at the sky.

"My mother died of cancer when I was very little. ...I was asleep in her arms when she passed. So now I've lost three parents, all whom I've loved very much."

Heinz's heart plummeted into his stomach, listening to Ferb's story. He didn't know a lot about how to make someone feel better after death, but it was clear that Ferb was in pain, and most likely going to be in pain over it for a long time. The two looked out at the sky, Heinz's mind churned with trying to find something, some way to help. He looked back at Ferb, and then it struck him.

"Hang on, Ferb. I'll be right back.", he said, quickly racing inside.

Ferb tailed behind him, a little slowly, unsure of what was really going on before Heinz reappeared with a CD in hand.

"When you get a chance, listen to this.", he offered, holding it out. "It helped me through some bad times, maybe it'll help you."

Ferb took the CD and looked over it curiously. On the front was marked, "Depression", nothing else. But he agreed to do as told and Heinz gave a nod before shooing the young boy to bed with a smile.

The next morning, things finally seemed to calm down around the house. Candace wasn't arguing, Phineas and Heinz were down in the lab, the ocelots were taking their baths, and Ferb was about to settle on the couch with the CD when Heinz suddenly ran through the room, slamming the door behind him and again as he ran to his bedroom. Ferb looked in worry while Vanessa simply smiled and shook her head before going back to the magazine. Phineas next through the door, slower, but just as worried as Ferb. He closed the door and walked to Heinz's bedroom door.

"Dad?", he called through. "Dad? what's wrong?"

"What's going on?", Ferb asked.

Phineas shrugged.

"I dunno. I asked what time it was, and the moment that he saw the clock, he ran up here."

Vanessa's smile widened a bit and she raised an eyebrow.

"I wonder what's goin' on.", Phineas began.

As if on cue, there was a knock on the door.

"Dad!", Vanessa called. "Someone's at the door."

"I'M NOT HERE!", Heinz whimpered from the other side of his door.

"You can't hide!", she called back.

"Can't hide from what?", Phineas asked as the door was knocked on again.

He opened the door and there stood Robert.

"Oh. Hi Uncle Robert.", Phineas smiled.

Vanessa's smile suddenly disappeared and was replaced with confusion.

"Hey, Phin.", Robert smiled before calling out. "Heinz! Where are you?"

Heinz peeked out of the door and then sighed and came out.

"Oh! Rob, hey!", he smiled and walked to the door. "Whew! Geez, for a moment there I thought you were-"

"Me?", Roger said as he came out.

"AAH!", Heinz backed up, accidentally tripping on his feet.

Before he hit the ground, Roger caught him by the arm and stood him back up.

"Now, Heinz. Didn't forget about our family reunion this year, did you?", he asked with a smirk.

"Hi Unlce Roger.", Vanessa smiled, happy to see that the annual routine was back in place.

"Robert, you traitor!", Heinz growled. "Why'd you trick me?!"

"Cause I LOVE messing with you.", Robert laughed a bit. "Besides, he paid me well."

"Oh! I'mgonnakillyou..!", Heinz growled.

"UNCLE Roger? You mean the mayor of the city is our uncle?", Phineas asked Vanessa.

"Surprising, huh?", she chuckled. "Every year, Dad tries to get out of going to the family reunion, and every year Roger finds some way to drag him there."

Roger finally looked behind Heinz, hearing the young small voice.

"Oh! Phineas, Ferb! What a surprise to see you here.", he smiled.

"Hi Mayor Doofenshmirtz.", Phineas smiled and he and Ferb waved back. "How's the antenna working?"

"Perfectly. Haven't had a tiger attack in months.", he nodded.

"Wait, wait, wait, you know each other?", Heinz asked.

"Oh yeah. We've worked for the mayor before.", Phineas beamed. "It was a lot of fun!"

"Nice to see you boys here.", Roger said before turning to his older brother. "So, Heinz, did you forget, or are you afraid to face Mom and Dad again?"

"I'm not afraid of anything, Roger.", Heinz lied.

Robert couldn't help but snicker making Heinz glower at him.

"Well then you certainly didn't FORGET it, did you?", he asked.

Heinz sighed and rolled his eyes.

"NO.", he said, truthfully. "It's just that I-"

"Well then let's go.", Roger insisted, already heading down the hallway. "I'll wait for you in the parking lot."

Heinz sighed and scowled at his friend.

"Thanks a whole heaping lot.", he huffed.

"Your welcome.", Robert chuckled.

"Do you have any idea what you're doing?!", Heinz snapped. "I wanted to stay AWAY from my family reunion, not because I don't like being around people that utterly IGNORE me, but because I have KIDS that have already been dragged all around town these past couple of days! They should be taking the day off!", he lowered his voice to a harsh whisper so Phineas and Ferb wouldn't hear. "Not to mention the utter embarrassment and shame I'd bring for explaining to my family that Phineas and Candace aren't even born under wedlock!"

"That's your own fault.", Robert said back in a mocking whisper. "That's what you get for not expecting to have kids when you're drunk."

Heinz merely narrowed his eyes and Robert walked home. Candace came out of her room by then and looked about.

"What was all that loud commotion?", she asked.

"We're going to a Doofenshmirtz Family Reunion!", Phineas said brightly.

Candace was less than thrilled but like Heinz, they were dragged along anyway. All along the cardrive, Phineas, Ferb, Candace, Vanessa, Perry, and even Heinz were being well groomed by Heinz's over-doting foster mother.

"Mom! I'm trying to drive!", he groaned as the cat cleaned through his hair.

The ocelot pounced into the back seat where she started to groom the boys. Phineas and Ferb giggled under her ticklish licking and were surprised by how neat and clean their hair looked afterwards. And Candace's hair was some how done up nicely with a bow after the groom and the cat sat down and took her time to more carefully comb through Perry's three layers of fur, making sure they all looked pristine for the reunion.

At the actual reunion, things were pretty much as they always were. It wasn't long that Heinz found himself sitting at his normal table with generally nobody to be with. Vanessa was showing Candace the better crowd of teenaged cousins and such to be with. Phineas and Ferb were racing about, playing with the ocelots. The only one nearby was Perry, though he didn't show his smarter, more comforting side. Not with Ferb and Candace around.

Ferb decided to take a small break from chasing wild cats and stopped by a tree to catch his breath. After a moment, he realized a foreign voice was talking to him and he turned around to see it was one of the other Doofenshmirtz's. A young, plump woman with her dark hair held up in a tight bun. A couple of others stood by her.

"Kann ich Ihnen helfen?", she asked.

Ferb was quiet once again and looked about, wondering where Phineas was, partially wishing there was something he could do to understand them.

"Ah. You speak English.", the relative quickly deduced. "I am sorry. Can I help you?"

Ferb still seemed quiet, but he looked somewhat confused and so then, shook his head.

"Well, if you do not mind me asking, why are you here? You are not a Doofenshmirtz.", the person went on.

Again, Ferb shook his head, but then he thought for a moment as an idea came to him.

"Oh. Well. See, I was um.. I came here with Mr. Heinz.", he said.

"Heinz?"

"Yes. He's right over there.", Ferb pointed him out and woman seemed quite surprised. "You see, he's my guardian."

"Guardian?", the person asked, looking back at Ferb. "Heinz?"

Ferb gave a nod.

"And my brother is over there, and my sister's there.", he pointed them out.

The person looked between the siblings, and then back at Heinz, and then looked at Ferb again and her face fell and her hands flew to her cheeks in anguish.

"Oh you poor thing!", she exclaimed, understanding something bad must've happened to his parents, placing him and his siblings under Heinz's care.

Within moments, the crowds were around him, and Ferb was holding the floor with his tale of his parents' death. The move, the loss of friends, the sincerity Heinz was showing, taking them under his wing. Without revealing Phineas and Candace as Heinz's blood children, he spun out a riveting tale of woe, making the man look like an angel to the family that never acknowledged him.

Heinz couldn't help but notice, his eyes doing a quick head-count of the kids, that Ferb was missing. He couldn't see the young boy, surrounded by the large crowd. He did see the crowd, and merely assumed it to be one of his cousins or an aunt or someone showing off their amazing talents. Certainly not FERB. The man was just standing up to look around for him, when a hand was placed on his shoulder. He looked up and found it was his cousin, Brunhilda.

"Oh Heinz! I had just heard from Ferb! That is so sweet of you!", she said, her accent still thick.

Heinz looked in disbelief and confusion. Heard what from Ferb? The death?

For a moment he was filled with dread that something about his relationship with Linda would be exposed, but Brunhilda and her boyfriend went on their merry way, and left the man in silence. Heinz had barely left the canopy that his table was sitting under when several other family members came by, all saying how wonderful and kind he was.

"Heinz!", a loud, deep, and rough voice cut through.

Heinz looked to find that there was his parents. Walking straight at him from across the field. Heinz's heart plummeted into his stomach in all sickness and stress. Surely THEY would've heard about Linda. About how Phineas and Candace were born out of wedlock. How he hadn't married and yet has had three kids with two women and no wife to show for it. His knees knocked together as his father took him by the arm.

"Heinz, we need a talk. NOW.", his dad insisted, while dragging the man aside from the crowds.

Heinz had just enough time to look over their shoulders to see Ferb's green hair hidden amongst the crowd and his mind raced with guessing what the boy was saying. What his parents wanted to say.

Once they were out of ear shot did Heinz finally notice that Roger had been tailing along behind them. He looked...angry? Serious? His eyebrows were furrowed together and he wasn't directly looking at Heinz, but the man had never seen his younger brother like this. It made him worry more, though, how much Ferb may have said to his parents.