AN: I'm not prone to too many author's notes. I would like to thank my readers for reading; it really means a lot to me. I know this isn't the easiest story to read; it wasn't easy to write.

To quote another author: Thank you, Constant Reader.

A few hours later, after a few more people left the party, Phineas called out to those remaining. "Thank you all for helping me celebrate my birthday. Today really was the best." Isabella then pulled him aside. "For the birthday-boy." She whispered to him and kissed him passionately while pressing herself against him. As she was only wearing her teeny tiny bikini, Phineas took advantage and ran his hands over her back.

He looked around for his family. When he didn't see them he went inside the house. He found his mother helping Vivian with the dishes. "Have you seen Ferb?" He asked. Linda turned to her son. "He left with your father almost two hours ago." She said and Phineas nodded. "Isabella and I are going back to our place, to watch a movie." He informed her. "Thank you for everything Mr. Garcia-Shapiro." He called out and went to find Isabella.

Phineas and Isabella went across the street to the Flynn-Fletcher house. Gretchen was sitting in the kitchen with Mr. Fletcher. "He'll be fine, he just needs to rest for a while." He said. Gretchen nodded and sipped at her tea. "I should have suggested he sit down. I should have..." She sobbed quietly. Phineas walked into the kitchen and saw his father try to comfort Gretchen. "What happened?" Phineas inquired, making Gretchen look up with red-rimmed eyes. He then became worried. "It's Ferb isn't it. What happened to him? Is he all right? Please tell me he's okay." Gretchen's lip began to tremble. "F-F-F-F..." She tried but couldn't talk. Lawrence rubbed her back. "Everything's fine Phineas. Ferb's just got a pulled muscle in his back. He needs to relax, he just over did it today." He explained. "He really wanted to see everyone." Gretchen whispered. Lawrence continued to rub her back. "I know. He's a good lad. He just needs to learn to take care of himself." Gretchen nodded.

Isabella came into the kitchen and reached for Phineas' hand. "Where is he?" Phineas asked as he went to stand by Gretchen, concerned not only for his brother but the distraught girl sitting at the table. "He's lying down on the sofa in the den. I couldn't get him upstairs." Lawrence said.

"I can get him upstairs." Phineas stated. "Gretchen, can you help me?" He asked; she started to stand up. "I'll help you Phin." Isabella said. Phineas looked at both girls. "I guess you could both help, I need the transporter in his room powered up." He said as he looked at Gretchen who nodded and went up to Ferb's room.

Phineas and Isabella went into the den and saw Ferb's green-haired head on the arm of the couch. "Isabella, can you power up the transporter down here?" Phineas asked her and she nodded and did as requested. Phineas stepped over to his sleeping brother. "Ferb? Can you hear me?" He asked and ran his finger along the collar of Ferb's shirt looking for the 'Cone of Silence'. When he didn't find it he lightly tapped his brother's face. "Come on Ferb, time to sleep in your own bed. It's more comfortable than the couch."

"Just pull him up." Isabella said as she came over and started pulling on Ferb's arm. "No, Iz. That might make things worse." Phineas said worriedly. Lawrence came into the den. "How do you plan on getting him upstairs?" Phineas smiled at his father. "Ferb and I rigged up a transporter to make it..." He said then his voice started to falter. "...easier for him." He finished with a hitch. Lawrence nodded. "You boys have always looked out for each other." He said with a smile.

Gretchen rushed into the den. "Phineas, I can't find the transporter." The boy's eyes went wide and he ran out of the den and was heard running up the stairs. Gretchen then sat beside the dozing boy. She picked up his hand and held it. "What happened to him?" Isabella asked as she came over and knelt beside her friend. "Some sort of back spasm. He... had to be given something for it. He'll be asleep for another few hours at least." Gretchen whispered quietly with tears in her eyes.

Phineas came back into the den. "I forgot, I put it in his desk drawer. I didn't want it to get lost or broken." He said as he came over. "What's wrong Gretchen?" Phineas looked at his brother's girlfriend. She shook her head and asked her own question. "Now how do you get him to the transporter? Phineas fell deep into thought for a moment, then looked at his father. "Dad, would you be able to support him during transport?" Lawrence looked at his son. "Can't you just transport him from the couch to his bed?" Phineas rolled his eyes. "This isn't TV Dad. This is real. He needs to be near the one machine and then he'll be transported near the other. Then, because he's not awake, he'll need to actually be put into his own bed. You're the only one tall enough; Dad, please help."

Lawrence agreed. As he and Phineas were trying to get Ferb off the couch, the teen woke up. "We're just going to get you upstairs to bed. You can rest some more there." Lawrence said. Ferb's eyes were out of focus, but he nodded.

Lawrence got Ferb to the transporter, Phineas manipulated the controls and an electronic sound was heard. Next thing Lawrence knew, he was in Ferb's bedroom. He part carried, part dragged his son over to the bed. Gretchen came into the room and helped get Ferb seated on the bed. "Can I stay with him, please?" She asked and Lawrence pulled her into a hug. "Of course you can love."

"I know this isn't what you had in mind for today." Gretchen whispered to Ferb who was just sitting on the edge of the bed. It appeared as though he were either trying to decide to stand up and take a walk, or fall asleep. He physically turned to look at her properly and sadly shook his head. Gretchen sat down beside him and hugged him tight. "Why do you do this to yourself?" She asked the rhetorical question. Ferb wrapped his arms around her and pulled her against himself. He then kissed the top of her head and ran his fingers through her hair. "Everyone expects so much from me." He replied. "You're the only one who doesn't make demands of me, yet you're the one person whom I'll gladly walk to the ends of the earth to please." Ferb finished and kissed the top of her head again.

Gretchen remained sitting on the bed with Ferb's arms wrapped around her. "Ferb, are you feeling okay?" She asked him then felt his arms tighten around her and his fingers through her hair. He sighed, "I just want everyone to understand... I'm just one person. I'm not even a whole person." He said. The girl took his hand off her cheek and held it. "Don't ever say that. Don't even think that. I love you Ferb. I've always loved you, let me help you see what a wonderful person you are." She said and kissed him.

Ferb lay down with Gretchen and returned her kiss. "I need to thank you." Gretchen said quietly to her boyfriend as she lay beside him. He raised an eyebrow at her. "When I was dating Jason... his hands were all over me, even if I asked him to stop." She whispered. Ferb sighed then Gretchen continued. "He was also dating other girls at the same time." Ferb closed his eyes tight. "I'm sorry." He whispered back, then looked into her eyes.

Phineas and Isabella were sitting in the den watching a DVD. She snuggled up against him. "Happy Birthday." She said for at least the twentieth time that day. He smiled at her and gave her a kiss. "Did you enjoy your party?" Isabella asked him. "It was great, I loved it. It was good to see everyone again. It was great to see Ferb again. He seemed to be having fun." He replied.

Isabella nodded. "I guess. He and Gretchen are really close. I knew they were dating but, I get the feeling it's more than that." She said. Phineas glanced at her and raised an eyebrow. "Are you jealous?" He asked her. Shocked, Isabella shook her head. "No. Of course not." She replied defiantly. "Why would I be jealous of her? She should be jealous of me, I've got you for a boyfriend." Phineas grinned mischievously and kissed her, pulling her close.

"Hey, Iz." Phineas suddenly said as he broke the kiss. "My folks got me some new games, wanna come up to my room and we can try them out?" He finished. She looked at him then at the TV; the movie credits were finishing up. "Sure, sounds like fun." She replied and turned the TV off as she stood up. They headed up to his room.

Phineas set up the game and handed a controller to Isabella, who had to admit she was actually having fun. Then the pair heard noises coming from Ferb's room down the hall.

"You don't have to. I'll just deal with it." They heard Ferb say. "I want to help you, just lie down and let me see what I can do." Gretchen replied.

Phineas and Isabella looked to each other, matching worried expressions on their faces. They then heard Ferb scream and Gretchen immediately apologise. "I'm so sorry, Ferb. Let me try this." She said.

Phineas tried to concentrate on the game, he looked at Isabella who was not oblivious to what they were hearing. They heard Ferb scream again. "I'm sorry, Isabella. I'm going to go close Ferb's door, I'll be right back." Phineas said and started getting off the bed.

"How's that feel?" Gretchen asked. "Better. That feels good, you've got a real talent there." Ferb replied.

Phineas was standing in the hallway. "I'm just going to close your door Ferb." He called out as he closed his eyes and reached out for the doorknob. He then heard Gretchen and Ferb start laughing. Phineas opened his eyes and looked into the room. Ferb was lying on the bed face down and Gretchen was kneeling beside him, but she had her face buried into his back; she was laughing. "What were you two doing? Isabella and I heard..." Phineas began, causing his brother to laugh harder. Gretchen sat up and got off the bed. "I was giving Ferb a back massage." She said. Phineas turned red. "I thought you and he were..." Gretchen doubled over in laughter.

Linda came home and looked around downstairs. "Phineas are you home?" She called up the stairs. "Yeah, Mom. Isabella and I are just playing a video game." Phineas called back. Linda ascended the steps and looked into her son's room, sure enough, his door was open and he and Isabella were sitting on his bed playing a video game. "Is Ferb in his room?" Linda inquired to which Phineas and Isabella nodded in response.

Linda went down the hallway to Ferb's room and stepped in. "Ferb, are you ready for... Ferb?" She called. Ferb was lying on his side with an arm around Gretchen. He was dozing and she was reading. Linda came further into the room and frowned at the girl. "He's got a broken leg and a weak heart." Linda said to Gretchen, putting her on the defence. "Ferb also has a pulled back muscle which is currently causing him pain." Gretchen pointed out as she started to pick up Ferb's arm to sit up, only to have him unconsciously pull her in tighter. She put her book down and extracted herself from him. "He's been given some muscle relaxants and a sedative by the doctor, but I had to massage a rather large knot out of his back." Gretchen said matter-of-factly. Linda shook her head. "I don't like the idea of him overexerting himself, his heart..." She started before Gretchen cut her off. "I understand what you're saying. I'll just leave."She said as she left the room and headed downstairs.

Gretchen got to the front door and with tears in her eyes, slipped her shoes on and left.

Lawrence was in the front yard mowing the lawn and he waved to his son's girlfriend. Linda came out of the house. "Gretchen." She called but the girl just kept walking. Lawrence intercepted the girl at the foot of the walkway. "What's wrong love?" Lawrence asked Gretchen who looked to the ground and shook her head. Linda stepped over. "Ferb is my son. I'm worried about him." Linda told the girl. Lawrence placed his hands on Gretchen's shoulders. "Gretchen, look at me." He said and she shook her head. He tilted her face up towards his and saw that she was crying. He then looked to his wife. "I'll drive Ferb back to your place in a couple of hours." He offered. Gretchen shook her head again. "Don't bother." She said and started walking away.

"Gretchen. Get in the car." Lawrence commanded her. She'd never heard him angry before. He came over and took her by the elbow and directed her to his car.

Linda went back into the house and into the kitchen to prepare the "Special Surprise" she had planned for Phineas. The reason she had called Gretchen's parents was because she was going to let the teens have some Champaign. Vivian had given the okay for Isabella. I don't know why I feel as though Gretchen's trying to take my son away from me. I don't harbour these feelings towards his biological mother. Linda thought as she pulled out the cakeletts from the fridge. Just because Ferb loves her dearly...I'm jealous of a teenage girl? Linda continued her thought.

Phineas and Isabella came downstairs. "Mom? Isabella and I are going out for a bit, we'll be back later." He called out and Linda replied. "No. I need to talk to you for a moment." The two teens came into the kitchen and Linda motioned for them to take a seat. "Do you think I'm overprotective?" She asked them. Phineas and Isabella shook their heads. "Not at all." They replied. Linda smiled slightly and asked another question. "Isabella, do you think I've ever treated the boys differently?"

Isabella sat at the table stunned. "I'm not sure how to answer that. I mean, if you asked me a couple of years ago I'd have said no. But in the past few years, you've given Phineas more autonomy. I know that Ferb's not home often, but from what I see, you're trying to force him to show affection." She paused and looked at Linda. "I'm sorry, that's just what I see." Linda nodded. Phineas nervously looked around. "Why are you asking Mom?" Linda sat down. "I see how easy it is for Ferb and Gretchen to communicate with each other and it's obvious he loves her. It feels as though she's taking my boy away from me. But I don't feel the same toward you, Isabella."

"What brought on this conversation?" Phineas inquired. Linda looked at her son. "I reminded Gretchen that Ferb had a broken leg and a heart condition. I then reminded her that he's my son and I worry about him." She said and Phineas nodded. Linda continued. "Gretchen decided that she was going to leave and your father offered to drop him off at her place, she told him to 'not bother'." Isabella's hand shot up and covered her mouth. "Oh, no. I have to talk to her." She said then pulled out her phone.

Phineas looked at his girlfriend. "What do you need to talk about?" Isabella looked at him. "She's breaking up with him." Phineas looked worried. "I don't understand." Isabella patted his hand a moment. "Gretchen knows that your mother's jealous of her easy relationship with Ferb. Therefore to keep your mother happy, Gretchen will sacrifice what she's got with him; knowing that Ferb will be devastated."