Candace was now at Phineas' aide, holding him in her lap as the boy continued to cry. He couldn't fight it anymore. He couldn't keep it hidden. So he poured out everything to Candace and was now left in tears until the pain stopped. Phineas' face was stained as his sister continued to rock them back and forth, hushing him lovingly.
"It's alright..", she said calmly. "I know.. I.. I miss them too..."
"I never got to say 'hi'...", Phineas said though it was barely audible.
"What was that?"
"I... I never got to- to say 'h-hi' to-to Da-ad.", Phineas said, hiccuping through his words.
"...I'm so sorry Phineas...", she said before kissing him on the head. "...I wish I got to say 'hi' one more time..."
When Phineas managed to dry himself of tears, Candace turned him around in her lap while saying, "It's okay, Phineas.. It'll be alright.."
"W-w-will it?", he said, still hiccuping.
"Of course, it will. Cause everything normally is for you.", she went on, picking up the bird from the floor. "That's just who you are. It may not always seem like it, but some how in the end, you always manage to come out with a smile. Just like Mom..."
She began to fix the bird as she spoke, pulling out the small wire of it's wing-frame.
"Just like Ferb..."
She pushed both wings in her hands to angle them better to fly in a circle like the others.
"Just like Dad..."
She twisted up the propeller.
"Just like me..."
She put Phineas' hand on one side of the propellers as her hand held the other side, and Phineas looked up at his sister, slightly surprised she was managing to build something. But Candace only smiled back and hugged him tigher with her free arm.
"It'll always turn out alright.", she said before they both let go.
The bird flapped its wings and began to fly to the ceiling above them. They watched in silence as it circled with the others. Arms wrapped over arms. Candace was the first to break the silence.
"By the way. I was coming to tell you that dinner's done. And Ferb's feeling better.", she said.
"R-really?", he asked, turning to her, eyes wide in hope.
Candace laughed at this and stood up with her brother while saying, "Yes. Yes he is. Phineas, it's just a little fever. Anyone can break it in a day."
They went upstairs to Dinner and once sat at the table, of course, explained what had happened back in the lab. Not long after they began to eat did Vanessa and Ferb stop to exchange smiles with each other.
"Now Ferb?", Vanessa asked.
Ferb gave a nod.
"Now what?", Phineas asked.
"Well. Earlier today, Ferb and I have agreed that...", Vanessa began, pausing to earn a little dramaticy. She couldn't help it. She was channeling her father and couldn't stop smiling because of it. "...we're going to get married.
"WHAT?! WHY!", Heinz Doofenshmirtz suddenly bawled on a screen that bolted out of Norm's face, earning a few screams from the others. "WHY!? Why are you LEAVING ME?! You- You're-! You're gonna-you're gonna-! NOO!"
As the man continued to bawl, no one was more horrified than Vanessa as her eyes were now officially glued to the screen. Tears quickly welded up in her own eyes as she watched.
"D-dad? Holy doonkl- Dad! Dad what-?", she tried to ask, though she couldn't think of what.
The man only continued to bawl, ignoring his daughter's own tears.
"I-I can't believe it's finally happening! Why?! Why now?! You're still so young!", he continued to say, causing an immense amount of pain in Vanessa's heart. "I-! I-I know I g-gotta do the su-su-supportive th-thing and-and all but-! B-but-!"
"Dad, it's okay. P-please, don't cry..", Vanesssa said, wiping away her tears.
Heinz attempting to try to be strong and determined as he wiped up his own tears, and trying to calm himself down as he turned to Ferb's direction before saying, "N-n-now you- you make sure you t-t-take c-ca-care of my daught you punk! ...cause I don't want her to divorced like I did!"
He broke down into tears and sobs yet again when suddenly he wiped up his tears and acquired a calm and more-or-less normal persona.
"I'm Heinz Doofenshmirtz and I approve this emotional message.", he suddenly said before the screen went black.
The silence in the room may have only lasted two seconds before everyone's voices were clamoring for the same explanation: what just happened?
"Dad had made videos ahead of time for occasions such as this, when he couldn't attend himself.", Norm explained. "He sat up the camera and tried his hardest to give an absolutely real enactment of his own reaction. It ranges for occasions such as the prom to things such as divorces, and first bo-"
"Alright, alright, alright, we get it!", everyone said, suddenly not wanting to hear more as Ferb's face turned red.
"SO... That was just a pre-recorded message?", Phineas asked, still wiping up his own tears.
"Yes. Yes it was.", Norm said. "He programmed me to carry them and use it if I was ever around to hear."
"Well how come you never told me?!", Vanessa barked, tears still rolling down her face. "I thought that was my real dad! I was scared half to death that he was about to suffer a heart-attack! Why'd you keep this a secret?!"
"Vanessa, calm down.", Ferb said, placing a hand on her shoulder.
"Why didn't you ever tell me he did something like this? Like, I dunno, maybe when he died?!", she went on, ignoring Ferb.
"Vanessa, please, calm down!", Ferb said, now pushing her back into her seat gently. "Norm didn't know to tell you. Don't take it out on him."
"I'm sorry I kept this a secret. I thought he would've told you.", Norm said, his smile upside down now.
"Well.. I have to admit..", Candace began, a little unsure if she should with how upset Vanessa seemed to be. "...I am kinda surprised you guys are already getting married. I mean, I'm happy. I'll always be happy for you two. But you're, what? Sixteen? Aren't you a little YOUNG to be married, Vanessa?"
"...Yes... Yes I am.", Vanessa sighed. "But fortunately, according to the law, all we have to do is get permission from the judge to be married under the appropriate age."
"Oh. Then, yay! I'm very happy for the both of you!", Candace said with a bright smile.
"But I have a question: why is it that you guys are getting married NOW? Didn't you JUST say you loved each other yesterday?", Phineas asked.
Ferb sighed and Vanessa gave a small smile, though it wasn't really worth it.
"Well.. Actually, the reason as of why NOW, is cause... Well there's this social worker that wants to put you, Candace, and I in the custody of our Uncle Roger because we aren't 'officially' a part of Ferb's family. You guys were never adopted into his family, I'm certainly not related, and we don't really have the money to adopt three kids. Marriage is really the only solution.", Vanessa explained.
"Oh...", Phineas cringed some, hearing this but then smiled. "Well. I AM happy for you two. Congratulations! OOH! Is Candace helping plan the wedding?"
Vanessa laughed some and Ferb gave a nod with a smile.
"We weren't really planning on a big fancy wedding.", Vanessa admitted. "But yeah, we already figured that Candace would help if she's interested."
"...Are you kidding me?", Candace asked, as if presented with a revolting idea before a bright and excited smile took hold of her. "I'D LOVE TO!"
Everyone laughed some more when a thought suddenly occurred to Phineas. How long had he been keeping it a secret, that he bottled up all that pain he poured out on Candace? How long had Ferb been hiding the fact that he's loved Vanessa this much? That Norm had footage of Dr. Doofenshmirtz? How many secrets did their family keep and how much pain will it cause until they're thrown out?
"Hey guys?", Phineas began to ask when the laughter died down. "You know... Considering all the secrets we've been keeping from each other, what if we made a promise, right now, to never hide another secret from each other? Unless it's something like, a surprise birthday party or something like that, of course."
"Hey, actually that sounds like a great idea!", Candace agreed with a nod as Ferb gave a nod of approval. "Yeah, cause normally when you bottle something up, doesn't it always just end up in a bigger problem than intended?"
"Well considering that one could have nightmares because of admitting love and proposal, it would seem like that would be the case.", Ferb agreed.
"Yeah. I mean, I wouldn't have had my huge blow up in the lab if I just came out and said what was wrong when it was wrong.", Phineas said with a sheepish grin.
While Candace, Phineas, and Ferb were showing signs of approval, it was quickly evidential that Vanessa and Norm weren't as enthusiastic for the plan. And when asked, they both shared a glance, knowing the number-one secret they've been keeping from the family for...how long? Since always?
"...Vanessa?", Candace asked. "What's wrong?"
"Um...", Vanessa began, not really sure how to say it. "I'm.. I've got a secret, but it's not mine. It's...it's actually someone else's. I'm not sure if I'm allowed to say it."
"Well.. is it from someone in the family? Cause then that should be alright. Otherwise, I guess you can keep your own.", Phineas said with a shrug.
"They're...part of the family..", Vanessa said.
She was hoping she didn't actually have to say it. But they had a point. Why should a family keep secrets?
"Well... I'm guessing Norm knows it too?", Candace asked. "Cause I saw you two looking at each other and everything."
"...Yeah Norm knows it too. But it's not his.", Vanessa said, now looking at the floor uneasily.
"Then what? Was it about Dad?", Phineas asked.
"No.", Vanessa said before chuckling a bit. "Well sorta. But it wasn't his secret either."
"Then if they're alive, why not you ask them if you could tell us?", Ferb offered. "It's only logic."
Another glance at Norm before Vanessa turned to Ferb to ask, "You really think so? I should go ask?"
With a nod from Ferb, Vanessa thought it over for a moment before getting up and walking to another part of the room.
"Um.. Vanessa? We weren't meaning right now.", Candace said, craning her neck to continue watching her sister.
"It'll only take a second.", she said, stopping by Perry and kneeling down to his height.
"Why are you with Perry?", Phineas asked.
"Yeah, whatcha doin?", Candace asked.
Perry backed up a bit, knowing good and well what Vanessa's secret was. He looked at the teenage girl worried, but Vanessa only seemed to mirror the expression.
"Come on, Perry. It's not like Rodney or someone is suddenly going to snatch them up off the streets or anything, right?", Vanessa questioned.
Perry sighed, looking another way. She was right. That wouldn't really be like any member of Lovemuffin.
"And besides, you're retired, anyway. It's basically like being fired.", she said, earning a slightly annoyed nod and eye-roll. "So, lemme tell them."
Perry shook his head and at first, Vanessa was going to get annoyed herself, until she saw him place a hand on his chest.
'Allow ME to do the honors.', his silent gesture translated.
She smiled and gave a nod before standing back up. With continuous questions, still fired at her, Vanessa walked back to the table and sat down with Perry right beside her.
"Alright, guys. Here's the secret. Perry's a secret agent.", she admitted.
Everyone was silent but then remarks of disbelief were quickly spread. Vanessa only smiled at these remarks and she looked down at Perry. Perry gave a nod and with a flip, he landed on the table on his hind feet, instantly silencing the family.
He kept his head to the ground, slightly nervous doing this on purpose. But isn't this what he always wanted? To be accepted as he is with his family? With memories of the second dimension, and worries of Monogram flooding his mind, Perry pulled out his fedora and flipped on the switch. He placed it on his head and looked back at Phineas, Candace, and Ferb's wide eyes with a sheepish grin.
"...Perry?", Phineas began, unsure of what all to say. "Y...you're a-!"
"Yeah. He and Dad used to fight each other when Dad was alive.", Vanessa explained.
"You fought with Dad?!", Phineas exclaimed, now looking like a cross between furious and shocked.
"I didn't know he was your dad!", Perry quickly explained. "I was born in my organization's base and was adopted into your family when I was just a year old. 3 years later after battling various enemies, I was assigned Dr. Doofenshmirtz, Vanessa's dad. The agency I work with, the Organization Without a Cool Acronym, or the O.W.C.A. had no idea you and Doofenshrmitz were related or otherwise I would probably be either entrusted into another family or given a different nemesis. "
"Whoa whoa, wait, you talk?!", Candace and Vanessa exclaimed.
"And you sound like Buzz Lightyear?!", Phineas asked, a little more childishly excited than anything.
Perry had to chuckle some from this notice as he lifted his hat a bit more and said, "Yes. It's a new device my boss' intern, Carl had placed into my hat. With it, I could just speak what the mission was and have audio for record, rather than rewrite everything onto paper or on the computer. It's easier to translate than to teach animals without thumbs how to write or type. But I do surprisingly sound similar to Tim Allen. And I was planning on surprising Doofenshmirtz when the technology was finished."
"...Strangely, that's the most normal thing I've heard in the scope of my life.", Candace admitted.
"So... I don't get it. Why didn't you ever let us know what you've been doing?", Phineas asked.
"It's a secret, Phineas.", Perry explained. "There's the first notion that a secret organization shouldn't be disrupted by concerned pet owners, there's a second of villains discovering the agent's owner's and using THEM as threat to the agent, there's also the understanding that had the owner's known, they risk not only blowing the agent's identity, but also are left every day to worry about where their pets are and agents are already stressed as it is with their nemesis without family being concerned too. Imagine if I came back home at 10 instead of 5 because I had an enemy who wouldn't shut up and paper work the size of a mountain to take care of only to be bombarded by 'Where were you, Perry? How come you didn't come back sooner? Are you alright? What happened? Can Ferb and I help you?' Phineas, no offense, but think about it. Isn't that EXACTLY what you're wondering right now?"
Phineas hung his head some with a small nod. It was true. All that and a thousand things more were flooding his mind.
"I'm lucky NOW to even get away with telling you. I guess Owca took down all the cameras in this place since Heinz died.", Perry said, looking around, wondering if he'd see one.
"WHAT?", Vanessa jumped onto this discovery as her face turned red. "You mean to tell me every time I go to take a shower, Carl's been staring at me on some stupid hidden camera?!"
"Ummm. NO.", Perry said with complete certainty. "No. I'm pretty sure Carl's not like that... He might turn it off or update his blog or something. ...Now as for Monty.."
"Shut up, Perry. I doubt HE would.", Vanessa said, still scowling in embarrassment.
"Hey don't tell Perry to-", Phineas began before Perry started laughing.
"Come on, Vanessa. I had to tease you a bit.", Perry said with a casual shrug. "Since we're so busy blurting out secrets, it's almost a shame your father couldn't be here to know you dated Monty Monogram at one point."
"VANESSA DOOFENSHMIRTZ! You are SOOO BUSTED!", Heinz's pre-recorded message suddenly exclaimed as he jumped out of Norm. "I can not BELIEVE you would do that! Of ALL things in the world! WHY!?"
"Oh gosh..", Vanessa face-palmed herself as the message went on.
Heinz was in tears at this point as he went on to say, "Have I taught you nothing at ALL?! He's not worth it! How could you do this to me?! He's- he's not- you're not gonna marry are you?!"
"Well now it's evidential that it's a recorded message.", Candace said with a chuckle.
"Norm, shut that thing off!", Vanessa sighed as she rolled her eyes.
But the video continued and Ferb turned to Perry in confusion, "Who's Monty Monogram?"
"He's my boss' son.", Perry explained with a shrug before chuckling a bit. "Don't worry Ferb. He's not going to steal Vanessa from you or anything."
Ferb gave a bit of a sheepish smirk as he rolled his eyes with a shrug.
"No I'm serious. Chances are, no way in heaven or earth he'll be convinced to want to date her, let alone marry like you've planned.", Perry said with a chuckle. "The two can barely stay in a room with each other for 10 minutes before they start and argument."
"We can too!", Vanessa argued.
"Hey, it doesn't matter.", Candace said. "You're Ferb's girl anyway."
With a thousand questions to ask and plenty for Perry to say, the group spent their dinner in this manner till bedtime. But when bedtime came by, there were still other questions to pursue.
"Come on, Vanessa!", Candace encouraged as the girls got dressed for bed. "Tomorrow's Thursday and if you and Ferb want a honeymoon, you oughta at LEAST be married by Friday to take the weekend off."
"Candace, I already told you. Ferb and I already thought about having just a nice, small, normal, wedding. nothing huge and fancy like your Aunt Tiana's.", Vanessa said as she rolled her eyes.
"But we should at least rent a dress.", Candace insisted. "Or something."
"Well a dress could be determined by Phineas and Ferb.", Vanessa said before thinking it over and back-tracking. "Or.. Phineas since Ferb's technically 'not' supposed to see the dress till the day."
"WHY would you let two BOYS handle the dress?", Candace asked, finding it utterly absurd.
"Cause my dad built plans for a ballgown-inator. A modification here and there and it could be a wedding-gown-inator.", she explained.
"Mm.. I guess. Better leave it to me though, incase Phineas does something crazy like a neon skirt or whatever.", Candace said as she rolled her eyes with a smile.
"You build?"
"Phineas isn't the only genius. I just wasn't encouraged.", Candace shrugged. "What colors would you like?"
"Umm.. I like purple, black, and red.", she said with a sheepish shrug. "Sorry. I'm not really a bright-colored person. But I think for a wedding dress, it should be a classic white."
"Mmm...", Candace thought it over carefully before reaching under her side of the bed and pulling up a dream-journal she's been keeping.
She made a few sketches and presented them to Vanessa. There was some small discussion between client and designer, but it wasn't long till they found something suitable. Vanessa wasn't one to argue at this point. Normally, she would, but it was late and she was ready to sleep. But Candace must've had coffee or something cause she was still on it.
"And rings? What about the rings?", Candace asked. "I mean, where'd he get your engagement ring anyway?"
"Well he said it was his first mother's, actually.", Vanessa said, sitting on the bed as she smiled down at it. "So we agreed that I'd use his mother's ring and he'll use my dad's. Kind of an entwined sort of thought, really."
"Aww... That's actually kinda cute.", Candace smiled. "Kay. Cake?"
Vanessa sighed and laid her head on the pillow and chuckled as she said, "Norm. I'm not asking for a big cake."
"Alright. Ooh! What about-?"
"Candace, let's get to sleep. It's been a long, vomit-filled day...", Vanessa chuckled, now pulling up the covers.
"Oh, alright.", Candace sighed with a smile and a roll of her eyes.
She climbed into bed and Vanessa turned the lamp off.
"Night.", Vanessa said.
"Night...Mrs. Fletcher.", Candace teased with a giggle.
*SMACK!*
"OW!", Candace groaned.
