The car trip following after Heinz was awkward, very awkward.
Perry spent the entire trip worrying and feeling, in a sense, pity for himself. His stomach whirled at the thought that every stop, light signal and turn they took only bringing them closer to Heinz's home. Something he admits his not looking forward too. He doesn't want to be a bother or take up valuable space his friend – should he consider him a friend? – could be using for other important things. On top of that he has two infants who will no doubt guarantee the awakening of the entire house at night.
Perry grimaced as his hands started to sweat on the steering wheel and whipped them individually on the side of his pants. On a random stop light and Heinz's minivan safely in view on the front he turned to his right to see Ferb sitting and buckled besides him, but instead of sitting properly and facing forward he sat with his body twisted to the left and staring behind them. His feet were lifted and rested on the seat as Ferb kept a vigilant eye on the twins who were buckled themselves but hidden away from view.
The baby seats they were in were facing towards the back of the car so any possibility of watching the twins during the car ride were thrown out the window for Ferb, but that's not going to stop him from trying.
"Hey bud?" Perry suddenly asked.
Ferb gave no indication that he heard him but the older cousin new without a doubt that he was listening.
"How do you feel about living with Phineas and Candace for a few days?"
His little cousin didn't have to say any words at all because the hope and joy shining and sparkling through his eyes were plenty enough to answer him.
"Well, that takes away one worry." Perry rubbed his forehead with a sigh and faced the front again just as the light switched to green.
The trip continued and his stomach turned again. They are almost there, he just knows it. His heart started beating faster and now his hands are beyond the point of drying by rubbing the sweat away with his clothing.
How is Heinz's home going to be?
Is it a simple one-story building with a picket white fence and a front yard colored in magnificent green that could only be from a movie? Or is it a moody house with purple coloring, a dead lawn and wire fencing? Maybe it's a multiple story house in the middle of a city with a wicked view of the shoreline? Either way, he really hopes they don't become a burden to the family living inside.
A couple of more turns, red lights and an intersection later Perry's household questions were finally answered. He followed after the minivan and pulled up in front of a two-story, peach and light-purple colored house with a soft brown wooden fence surrounding the back of the building. The grass could only be described coming out of a fairy book because there is no possible way that it could be so green and healthy.
Perry always lived in apartments so he never had the luxury of having and caring for a lawn, or a fence, or having a garage as a matter a fact. Towards the left side of the house rested a white garage door, and just like the entire house, it looked and sparkled a magnificent sheen from the sun's rays reflecting off of the surface.
Perry had to blink twice. Is it even possible to be this perfect looking? Maybe he is just imagining it. Yeah, that explains everything.
"Home?" Ferb suddenly asked, gazing at the scenery with a mixture of curiosity and excitement.
"Yeah, I guess this is home. Looks perfect doesn't it bud?"
His little cousin nodded and unbuckled his seat belt, leaning closer towards the windshield and resting his arms on the dash.
Both of them stared at the scenery for a few more seconds before Heinz showed up besides Perry's car door and knocked for them to come outside.
"What's the matter? Amazed at the view?" He chuckled, motioning for them to hurry.
"You could say that." Perry answered him, avoiding eye contact and ignoring what the other possibility the answer could imply.
He made his way towards the back seats and unbuckled both twins. Even though Ferb can manage carrying the twins on their own he couldn't handle carrying them with the entire car seat, and so Heinz offered his arms to carry one of them. Perry carefully handed Max to him who ended up falling asleep through the car ride. His brother remained fully awake and stared curiously at his surroundings, giggling as a leaf decided to bravely land on his nose.
Perry cautiously lifted the twin and followed after the other man once he managed to close the door.
"Listen Heinz, I'm grateful you are doing this but I really don't want to be-" Perry started only to be cut off before he could finish.
"I don't want to hear any of it. You guys aren't going to be a burden, and besides Phineas is excited at having Ferb around."
"Phineas knows?" Perry was genuinely surprised. The child knew already?
Heinz smiled sheepishly. "I may have mentioned something before driving off to get you guys."
"May have huh?"
"Anyways, this is the Doofenshmirtz house hold. There isn't much here besides regular house equipment, needs, TV entertainment, a couple of stairs, I feel that I should mention the stairs, a kitchen and closets. Also can't forget-"
"Dad!" Suddenly a very familiar voice from a certain red-head child shouted.
Phineas came rushing out of the door the moment they set foot on the front door pavement. He gripped Heinz's left foot as soon as he reached the arriving group, smiling brightly and eyes sparkling brightly with joy at them. The clinging to his leg didn't last long though because once his sight gazed at Perry and then landed on Ferb he was all over the place with hellos.
"the hyper-active child that can keep you entertained for weeks on end." Heinz finished once Phineas got distracted with Ferb who was at this point was holding onto Perry the Platydoll.
"Never a dull moment in the Doofenshmirtz house hold, huh?" Perry commented.
"Nope." Heinz shook his head and started walking towards the front door again. "Now come on. Candace should be inside watching TV. If I remember correctly Ducky Momo is on and one shouldn't interrupt her when she is watching her share of daily Momo."
Perry had to retain himself from laughing with great effort. He has heard of Ducky Momo before. Ferb would occasionally flick through the channel it comes out and the title of the show would be glorified in purple and pink, very hard to forget such an introduction. Besides thinking that the show is dangerously adorable he didn't think much of it. Not until now anyway.
"Also there is someone else I want all four of you to meet! I'm sure you will love her." Heinz continued.
Curiosity peaked into Perry's mind. This is the second time Heinz mentions wanting them to meet someone new, and a her? Can't be a girlfriend because that would just make this extremely awkward, what with bringing another man juggling three kids and all.
"And who is this someone dare I ask." He commented.
"Nobody dangerous, at least a little anyway. You'll see." Heinz walked through the front doors with the rest of the crew following.
Sure enough Candace was the first person to be spotted inside and she was sitting on a couch facing a television. A duck dance merrily inside the screen as she stared hypnotized. The house inside was very roomy. The living room rested on the left side while the right was cut off to make the kitchen. From the angel he was standing from the door he could make out a kind of pine table in the middle of the kitchen and chairs. Stairs leading up to the second floor were placed right in front of the doors, and the entire floor besides the kitchen seemed to be carpeted.
"Welcome to casa de Doofenshmirtz! That's Spanish for house of Doofenshmirtz." The host said to them.
Perry was already familiar with a few Spanish words because of a certain coworker he had.
"I figured as much."
"Alright, time for that person I mentioned. Vanessa dear! Could you come here? We have guests!"
Both Perry and Ferb looked around the house for the person mentioned. Curiosity sneaked in and they wanted to know what this person would look like. It's a she; will she have long or short hair? Will she like or approve of them? What is her relationship to Heinz?
Candace continued to look at the screen unfazed by the presence of newcomers while Phineas continued chatting with Ferb who struggled to listen and look for the person at the same time.
"Here she comes." Said Heinz.
Perry looked around and found nobody so he tried to focus on his hearing for footsteps and sure enough a pair of stomps were approaching them and growing louder. A figure appeared before them from behind the stairs. She was small, about the same size as Candace if a little taller. Her hair was the same color as Heinz's and reached down to her shoulders. Some of it flopped on her face giving her an innocent and dark look. Her eyes were a brilliant blue, the same as Heinz as well. She wore a purple dress that bore black stripes everywhere and small purple flats. She had her arms crossed when she walked towards them. Clearly she didn't like the idea of coming here.
"Perry, I'd like you to meet my daughter Vanessa."
His daughter? That explains the resemblance.
Perry smiled at the little girl while trying to balance Ethan and the car seat on his arms.
"Hello there, it's very nice to meet you Vanessa."
The girl didn't respond to him and instead just stared openly.
"Vanessa dear, this is Perry. He is a friend who will be staying with us."
She continued to stare.
"Vanessa! Vanessa! Look! This is Ferb!" Phineas started to gleefully cheer and succeeded in getting her attention.
The two kids seemed to have a long staring contest as neither refused to give up the stare. Vanessa still had her arms crossed while Ferb hugged Perry the Platydoll. The only source of communication between them was blinking. Morse code maybe? Heinz decided to intervene and leaned down a bit to give Vanessa complete view of the bundle and seat in his arms.
"Vanessa, this little guy is Max."
The little girl's gaze showed emotion for the first time as she leaned in closer to the baby. Perry could have sworn he almost saw her smiling. He decided to follow after Heinz's actions and leaned down to show his own bundle.
"This little guy is Ethan. He is Max's brother."
Vanessa didn't look at him but her gaze exchange between the two infants. Max was still peacefully asleep but Ethan stared at her curiously before bursting into giggles, reaching up towards her. She unhooked her arms and dangled one finger in front of him. He happily grabbed hold of it and tried chewing on it with his non-existing teeth. Now Perry was positive he saw her smiling.
He looked towards Heinz who just so happened looked back at him at the same time. Both men smiled at the sight before them. Ferb was already distracted by Phineas' constant talking and Candace remained oblivious to the whole exchange.
"Is it okay if Perry, Ferb and the twins stayed with us, dear?" Heinz asked his daughter.
This time the little girl stared at Perry, giving his face a look over before finally nodding and walking back to wherever she came from.
"Is that a yes?" Perry asked confused.
"Yes it is. It's her way of saying she likes you guys. She doesn't do well with strangers but give her time, she'll come around and start demanding things from you." Heinz chuckled at his saying.
"Can't wait for that to happen."
"Anyways, let's go get your stuff now. There is a huge guest room upstairs that is perfect for all of you. There is also a room next door to yours that is perfect for a nursery. That is if you want it. I understand if you can't separate from your children yet because, you know, not a lot of parents can stand the idea of having their children away from them. I know I wasn't any better. Like when Phineas started sleeping on his own in his room I freaked out. Candace has Vanessa with her so I'm not as worried for them but Phineas is all on his own and-" Heinz started chatting.
"Huh, Heinz? You said something about getting the stuff?" Perry smiled at him.
"Oh right! Look at me talking up the little time we have. Come on then, no more dilly-dally."
"Dilly-dally? Such colorful vocabulary."
"I learned it from one of Phineas' cartoons. Very creative if I dare say." Heinz walked over to Phineas and Ferb. "Phineas, Ferb, mind watching the twins while me and Perry unload the cars?"
Phineas beamed at him. "'course dad! You can count on us!"
Perry placed Ethan next to him, moving him towards the side a bit in case they don't accidently step on them or something. Ferb took it upon himself to sit in the middle of the two infants while Phineas decided to sit right in front of him and continue his earlier conversation.
Both men worked endlessly in bringing all the items from both the car and minivan. Sometime during the middle of it Vanessa decided to sneak back in the living room and sat beside one of the twins. Max had woken up and became entertained with Vanessa tickling him on his sides. It seemed a rivalry had been born because Ferb wasn't having any of it. He focused on Ethan and started to tickle the infant as well. The battle over the twins was on.
Phineas remained sitting innocently watching the whole scene. He still talked but the conversation changed to the twins and how both Ferb and Vanessa were going to be amazing friends.
Having another muscle source was a great help to Perry. The items were all taken inside in no time and now he was enjoying watching the exchange between daughter and cousin in the comfort of the couch. Heinz also joined him. Candace's duck show had finished a while ago and she merged with the huddle of children. She didn't have a clue on what was going on so she decided to do what Phineas was doing. Sit innocently on the side lines and watch the others have at it.
"I think the children are getting along great, don't you?" Heinz commented after a while.
"Oh yeah, nothing beats sibling rivalry." Perry joked.
"Yeah… siblings." The doctor whispered to himself.