A/N I'm going to skip again. To, you guessed it, Christmas eve! HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYONE! Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas/Hanukkah/Kwanzaa
Phineas POV
"Phin! A car just pulled up!" Isabella yelled excitedly. I jumped from my seat. The whole family was sitting in the living room of Candace and Jeremy's house, almost the whole family anyway.
"Really? Do you think it's him?"
"Yes. That's him." Mom confirmed. "I'm going to pull the ham out of the oven."
"Will someone help me to the door then?" I asked impatiently. I bounced in my anticipation.
"Sure, Phineas. I will." Isabella giggled. "Just help me up."
I felt her take my hand and I help ease her off the couch. She was due any day now and I was surprised she could stand stand straight at all. Of course, there was no way to know that for sure. Isabella walked me to the door leaving her ever so slightly breathless. I kissed her forehead. "Thanks, Izzy."
She didn't respond because at that moment Ferb opened the door. "Phineas!" He threw his arms around me and pulled me into a tight hug. "I missed you so much."
"You too, Ferb." He smelled like motor oil and confidence. Just like always.
"Well, isn't that adorable?" Candace half mocked from where I assumed she was still seated on the couch.
"Candace, How are you?" Ferb asked reluctantly releasing his grip.
"Better, 'cept I have to wear this damn back-brace."
"Well, you look great." Ferb said. Jeremy voiced his agreement, gaining one of Candace's famous psychotic giggles.
"Kids, dinners ready." Mom's voice floated toward us from the kitchen.
"Be right there, mom." I called over my shoulder.
"Phineas, do you think I could have a word with you?"
"Sure, Ferb." He pulled me by the arm and waited, I suppose until everyone else was out of ear shot, before speaking again.
"You didn't tell me she was going to be here."
At first I wasn't quite sure who he was talking about. Then I realized. "Oh, come on. It wouldn't be Christmas without mom and besides, you have to forgive her sometime."
"Not likely after what she did to you."
"Exactly. What she did to me, and I chose to forgive her." Ferb didn't say anything. "Come on, At least try." More silence. "Please, Ferb. for me?"
He groaned. "Fine, but only for you."
He walked me to the dining table and sat me down. I heard the clink of a plate being sat down in front of me and Isabella wrapped my hands around a fork. I gave up on using it though about halfway through the mashed potatoes and used my fingers. No one objected.
"So, Ferb, hows school." Isabella asked.
"Fine."
"Meet any cute girls?" Candace, as always, sticking her noes in other peoples business. I expected Ferb to come back with some sarcastic response but he stayed quite. I heard the clatter of silverware all around the table. Even I dropped the slice of ham I was chewing. "You did, didn't you?"
"Wonderful green beans, mum. Did you make these yourself?"
"Oh my god! Ferb's got a girlfriend!" Candace said. "What's her name?"
"Yeah, Ferb! Let's hear it!" I said.
He groaned. "Her name is Vanessa."
"Vanessa." I said. "Wait, wasn't she that older girl we met in Tokyo?"
"When were you in Tokyo?" Mom asked.
"Yes, that was her."
"Geeze, Ferb. Wasn't she like five years older then us?"
"Six."
"Way to go buddy! She was hot!" Isabella nudged me "Not as hot as you, of course."
"Why don't you tell us a little about her why I get some dessert." Mom said. A chair scrapped across the floor and soon I smelled warm chocolate and apple pies. Ferb told us about Vanessa and Isabella and I explained about our studies as well. Isabella admitted her dislike of her classes but I quite enjoyed mine. What seemed like minutes later we had all finished eating and would have moved into the living room to open gifts but we had all eaten entirely to much.
"I don't think I'll ever move again." Jeremy complained. We all agreed and I heard Isabella gasp. She leaned over and whispered something in my ear. Completely forgetting my vow to stay put forever I jumped from my chair.
"Oh my God! Are you sure?" She said that she was.
"What happened?" Mom asked, concerned.
"My water just broke."
The minutes which followed were total chaos. After the initial shock, panic set in. I'm not entirely sure how we got to the hospital, as I remember next to nothing of it. I was never so glad to have my family around. I first thing I remember vividly was a friendly and familiar voice welcoming us to the hospital. Under normal conditions I may have recognized the voice immediately but as it were I had to wait until Candace confirmed my suspicions.
"Stacy? Stacy Hirano? Is that you?"
"Candace?"
"I can't believe it's you! How have you been? I haven't seen you since your wedding!"
"Great, oh my! the whole family is here, aren't they?"
"For the love of God! Someone get me an epidural!" Isabella moaned. I gripped her shoulders firmly.
"Isabella? I didn't even recognize you!" Isabella moaned again. Stacy yelled. "Can I get a wheelchair in here?"
That burning sensation in my eyes returned. Familiar and utterly debilitating. Not now I think, buckling under my pain. Not now. I shook my head and rubbed my eyes.
"Come on, Phineas. We're this way" My mother gripped my arm and pulled me along side her. I rubbed my eyes one last time and I managed to stay on my feet. "I know this is scary, Phin. I promise it'll be alright." I nodded. She guided me to the edge of a bed and I felt Isabella grab my hand and I swear to God my fingers cracked. This helped clear my head at least. I had made it a point to never let Isabella know about these crippling episodes. Besides they never last long.
"You're not quite dilated enough." Stacy announced. "We got sometime."
"So, hows Coltrane?" I heard though my pain induced fog. I think maybe Candace was speaking but for all I knew it may have been Ferb.
"Oh, Cole's just great. His music career isn't going as well as planned but we're getting along."
"Glad to hear it."
"We should have lunch sometime. You know, to catch up."
"Sure, that sounds wonderful"
Isabella started to moaned and changed into a scream. Her hand shattering grasp failed to bring me from my fog. It was all I could do to keep from screaming myself. I felt myself stumble. I heard a voice float to me as if we were underwater and suddenly I felt the earth rush toward me and then there was silence.
A/N The next (and last) chapter will be up tomorrow, probably, if, and this is incredibly important, If get baby names! Leave a review saying the name and why you think they should be named that and I will pick the best two. Feel free to suggest more then one if you wish. I refuse to pick names myself cuz I'll just second guess myself and it will never get chosen. Thanks in advance for the ideas! Grazie :D
