I put back up the contest for Vanessa's wedding dress in the group on dA.

Chapter Ten

Ferb noticed someone coming and pointed down the hall. They all turned to see Lawrence walking solemnly towards them. Isabella took her hand away from Phineas's chest, but kept holding his hand. Ferb and Karlie disapeared from her vision but she didn't mind.

Lawrence came to them and hugged Phineas and she had to let go. His eyes were shut tight against the tears, so he couldn't see Karlie or Ferb. Karlie put her finger to her lips and vanished. Phineas and Ferb exchanged worried looks before Ferb vanished as well.

"I'm glad to see you came," Lawrence said. "It looks like Ferb is healing nicely. We only needed to wait for when he can wake up."

"That's great news dad," said Phineas. He gently pulled away from him. "Isabella and I are going out for some dinner. I'll be back home late."

Lawrence looked at his youngest son with tear filled eyes. "That's alright. You two have have fun."

"Thanks dad." Phineas took Isabella's hand and led her out.

Ginger waved them over as they passed the front desk. "We're you singing Phineas?" she asked.

"Yeah," he shrugged.

"I'm glad to hear you found something to sing about, but I wouldn't do it here any more. The patients need quiet and rest."

"Oh, ok. Sorry."

She smiled. "You two have a nice day. I'll call if anything changes."

"Thanks Ginger," said Isabella. She and Phineas left and walked quietly to Ferb's truck. Once they got in she turned to him. "Alright talk."

Phineas glance at her as they drove away from the hospital. "About what?"

"Who's after Ferb? Why are they after him? Why just why?"

"I don't know," he said. "Karlie took us back in time and showed us two men who wanted to experiment on Ferb. They can find out what makes him so smart. Did you know he could talk right at birth?"

"Really? Wait Karlie can time travel?"

"Yeah. Guess because she a spirit the usual laws of the universe don't apply to her. Anyway, those men kept nagging her and dad about it until they-"

"Called Scotland Yard," she finished. "I know this. What I want to know is who these men are?"

"I don't know. I remember when Karlie showed us one was old with a cane. He died in prison and the other was younger with an old fashioned cap and a full mustache. He's still a live. There's a chance he's changed his look but I believe would still be able to recognize him.

"Wouldn't he be in London?

"He must be trying to find Ferb."

"But how do you play into all this?"

"This," he grasped the blue stone around his neck, "is Star of Life Wishes. It let's me see and talk with spirits. Maybe I can find someone who can help us." He continued more to himself. "I want to help but to be honest I'm scared. I'm not sure if solving this mystery would even be enough to," He quickly pushed that thought away. "No I can help. I have to." He tightened his hold on the stone. "If I don't, who knew what could happen."

Ferb had meant to follow his mother but instead found himself thinking of someone else and then found himself with someone else. Vanessa was pacing around her mother's living room, arms crossed and frowning. He couldn't move from her and he could do nothing but watch and listen.

Her mother, Charlene came into the room. "Oh sweetie. I don't know what to say."

"I don't know what to do," said Vanessa. She stopped pacing and sat on the couch.

"We may not know when Ferb will recover."

"Or if he will," Vanessa added before her mother could finish. Those words made Ferb's heart drop with shock.

Charlene scolded. "Vanessa Doofenshmirtz. How could you say something like that."

"I want him to recover," Vanessa said quickly. "But. But, I'm afraid. What if he doesn't. Mom, I love him. I love him so much. I don't know what I'll do if I lose him."

Her mom sat next to her. "Listen to me. Ferb loves you very much too and I don't think there's anything that could stop him from being with you." They exchanged smiles. "Now I know you called off the wedding, but why don't we go find you a dress, for when he wake up?"

Vanessa said, "Ok, mom," and hugged her mother as she cried.

Ferb looked at them in complete and utter shock. He hadn't known she had called off their wedding. He looked at her and felt his heart breaking and a tear fall on his cheek. All he wanted was to hold her close, like Charlene was, and tell her it was alright. If only.

Then an idea came to him. They were already planning to tell Vanessa what happened and Ferb couldn't wait any longer. He focused, like Karlie taught him and found himself at in his room. The front door opened and he heard Phineas and Isabella talking as they came in. He stood in the hall and waited for them.

"Oh there you are Ferb," said Phineas when he came up.

Isabella followed Phineas's eyes and waved to the spot. "Hi, Ferb."

Phineas noticed the look in his eyes. "Ferb. What's wrong."

"It's Vanessa. She's called off the wedding."

"Oh. Sorry man."

"What?" Isabella asked.

"Vanessa called off the wedding."

"Oh. I'm sorry Ferb."

Phineas took off the Star of Life Wishes and held it in his hand and took Isabella's hand with the same one so she could hear both sides of the conversation. If Ferb talked again. "What can we do to help."

Ferb looked at him or at his hand.

Phineas understood. "Are you sure?"

"It's the only way," said Ferb. "And Phineas, I want you to give the stone to her. There are thing I need to say to her alone."

"Ok. I guess I know what we're going to do tomorrow."

"Tonight. Please, this can't wait."

"I'll give her a call." Phineas let go of Isabella's hand and stepped aside, tuning his watch/communication device to Vanessa's frequency.

Ferb listened to their voices as Phineas worked his magic and got her to agree to come over. Knowing her help was not needed, Isabella kissed Phineas goodbye and wished him luck. She turned and gave a wave to where she thought Ferb was. Phineas pointed to her left and she turned to wave again before leaving.

The brothers waited for Vanessa in silence. Neither one saying anything and neither one wanting to say anything. After a good five hours, the doorbell rang. Phineas went to answer it and lead Vanessa into the living room.

"That's for coming," he said. "Can I get you something to drink? Water? Juice? Apple cider?"

"The cider sounds nice. Thanks." He went into the kitchen to pour her a glass. She sat sat on the couch and looked at the photo of him, Ferb, and Candace from their sister's graduation. "Have you heard anything?"

Phineas came back with a glass of cider and handed it to her. "The bandages came off today. He seems to be alright."

"Thanks," she said as she took the glass. "I'm glad to hear."

Ferb came to stand next to her. He looked at his brother with pleading eyes.

"Um Vanessa? There's something Ferb wanted me to give you." He held out the necklace. "Go on. Try it on."

She took the necklace, rubbing the blue stone with her finger. "Thank you Phineas," she said as she put it around her neck. Once it was around Phineas looked at Ferb. Vanessa noticed him looking at something and turned to look as well and saw Ferb. She fell back and looked from him to Phineas and back again.

"Hi Vanessa," Ferb said.

She looked at him in shock, trying to find her voice. "F-f-ferb? Is. Is that really you?"

He smiled sadly.

"What? What happened?"

"It's kind of a long story," said Phineas.

She sat back on the couch to listen as Phineas told her what had happened over the last twenty fours hours.

"This is really happening? Not a hologram of some kind? He's really here and alive."

"Yeah," said Phineas. "That stone lets you see him and talk with him. He said there was some thing he had to tell you."

Youtube link: watch?v=o8JuIT5KbcE (begin at "meant to follow")