RW26Z A/N: Hey lookie, I'm not dead! And I'm a EXTREMELY sucky at updates. Between a job shift, my laptop battery taking a nosedive and the lack of home internet, it's been a slow go. I apologize at the length between these updates, I do promise that this story will get finished. Wolfy Note #2: Yeeeeeah, sorry about the long wait. I hadn't forgotten about this fiction nor have I given up on it. A bit of warning, these chapters have NOT been ran through any editing other than spell check.
"Do you want me to get you the new book from your favorite author?" Ferb asked.
"I don't think I'll have time to read it," Gretchen replied.
"What about when you're sitting down to feed him?" Ferb suggested.
"That's supposed to be precious bonding time," Gretchen returned with a glance between her husband and sister-in-law.
"It that what the book told you?" Candace inquired, an eyebrow arched.
Gretchen nodded.
Candace sighed and said, "I was able to feed Amanda and keep up with my work at the same time."
Ferb raised an eyebrow.
"You catch on quickly when you've got a baby feeding every four hours," Candace explained.
"How did you manage?" Gretchen asked, curious.
"Laptop and an arm rest. With the boys it was a bit easier, Jeremy would bottle feed one, giving me an extra free hand," Candace replied.
"Maybe an E-reader," Ferb suggested thoughtfully.
"Maybe after a while," Gretchen said, a slight frown on her face.
"That works," Candace remarked, noting the expression on the younger woman's face.
"Or maybe I'll just bottle feed him and you could read your book," Ferb offered.
"There you go. That's a good father," Candace grinned.
"I'm not sure about bottle feeding. We'll see how everything goes," Gretchen hedged.
"It can be a lifesaver, especially when you need a shower," Candace pointed out.
"Can we talk about that later?" Gretchen asked Ferb.
"Of course," Ferb replied.
"Is your hand all right?" Gretchen inquired.
Ferb nodded.
"Ferb..." Gretchen said in a disbelieving tone.
"I'm fine," Ferb said flexed hand, then kissed her forehead, "Nothing broken."
"I'm sorry I yelled at you," Gretchen apologized.
"It's not your fault, you were in labor," Ferb said.
"If you're sure," Gretchen replied.
"I don't want to see you in that kind of pain again," Ferb said softly.
"Ferb, honey, Women have been having children long before me and they will long after me," Gretchen told him.
"What if you have another?" Candace asked.
"What if we don't?" Ferb returned.
"What if I want more?" Gretchen inquired.
Ferb looked at her, "You do?"
"I'm thinking that I do," Gretchen replied.
Ferb raised an eyebrow.
Candace watched them interact.
"Are you serious?" Ferb asked.
"I would like to keep those options open," Gretchen answered.
"That is something you need to discuss," Candace put in.
"It's not that I'm opposed to the idea, I just... I love you Gretchen and..." Ferb trailed off.
"Ferb, I want us to have a family," Gretchen said, an almost silent plead in her voice.
"We've got one. We've got Alexander," Ferb replied, catching on to the plead, but wanted his point to be known.
"He's going to need siblings," Gretchen said, digging her heels on her point, with the age difference between her and her older brother, it was quite different when she reached the age of twevle.
"He's got us," Ferb returned, not wanting to reveal his reason behind his hesitancy in front of his sister.
"Ferb, what's the issue? When we discussed having children, we both agreed that-" was as far as Gretchen got before Ferb cut her off.
"I know...It's just-" Ferb stopped short.
"Just what?" Gretchen prodded.
"What if you become pregnant with twins?" Ferb asked.
"Then I'm pregnant with twins," Gretchen replied non-chalantly.
"Alexander alone put a lot of stress on your body," Ferb pointed out.
"Ferb, we'll cross that bridge when we get there," Gretchen said evenly.
"Take it from me, single, twin... no difference," Candace remarked.
Ferb raised an eyebrow at her.
"Seriously, no difference," Candace said, with a slight shrug.
"If it'll make you feel any better we can also talk to my Grandmother," Gretchen added, with a slight sigh.
"Can I think about this a bit? Alexander was just born, now you're telling me you want another," Ferb said.
"I didn't mean right away. Maybe in a year or two," Gretchen replied, raising an eyebrow slightly.
Candace stood and hugged Ferb, "Just relax. You're right, Alexander was just born. You should enjoy him and get to know him."
Ferb gave a sad nod.
Gretchen was about to say something but she suddenly glanced out the window uneasily.
Candace noticed this, "Something wrong?"
"Can we please close the drapes?" Gretchen asked, knowing good and well what was the probable cause of the cold and creepy feeling.
Ferb went to window and looked out, "I don't see anything. We're on the fourth floor."
It was all Gretchen could do to keep the plea out of her voice, "Just please, close the drapes."
Ferb shrugged, "Okay," and pulled curtains closed.
"Thank you," Gretchen said and Ferb detected a note of relief in his wife's voice.
Ferb looked at her closely, "Are you okay, love?"
"I'm sorry," Gretchen said, forcing her unease to the back of her mind, at least while someone else was present.
Ferb raised an eyebrow.
Gretchen looked at Alexander, and her expression softened.
"I should be getting home," Candace said then hugged Gretchen, and kissed Alexander on the forehead, "Congratulations again you guys. He's a lucky baby," she turned to Ferb, "Take care of yourself. You'll be useless to Gretchen if you don't."
Ferb nodded.
"If you've got any questions, call me... anytime. I won't mind," Candace said.
"Thank you Candace," Gretchen replied.
Once the door clicked shut behind his step-sister Ferb turned to his wife, "Why did you have me close the drapes?"
"No reason," Gretchen replied, an obvious lie.
"Gretchen, you do everything for a reason," Ferb reminded her.
"Lay down beside me," Gretchen said as she scooted over.
Ferb laid down, then wrapped an arm around her, "What's wrong love?"
"I had the feeling that someone was watching me," Gretchen answered, the unease returning to her voice.
Ferb kissed her nose, "The only people outside are either in other offices, working. Or they're four stories down."
"Or on the roof of said office building," Gretchen pointed out then shuddered slightly, "The Restraining Order is clear."
"He'd be an idiot to break it," Ferb remarked, a protective edge coming to his voice.
"He can't go past the ER, there are security guards," Gretchen said.
Ferb passed Alexander gently to her, "No one can harm you love."
Gretchen looked into Ferb's eyes.
"What's wrong?" Ferb asked.
"I miss being pregnant," Gretchen replied.
Ferb placed a hand on her abdomen, "We'll see what happens."
Gretchen kissed him rather than reply.
"But for now can we just get to know this little one for the time being?" Ferb asked.
Gretchen nodded, adjusted Alexander and snuggled up close to Ferb.
"This is nice. You and Alexander fit nicely right there," Ferb said.
"You sound quite happy with yourself," Gretchen noted.
"I'm quite happy with what you have done today. And yes, I am happy with myself; I've got a beautiful wife and a handsome little boy," Ferb replied.
Gretchen giggled, "Remember the first time we made out on a hospital bed?"
Ferb nodded and grinned, "I remember. I was also nervous that if we weren't careful we would have had a little one a lot sooner than we did."
"No we wouldn't, you refused to put your hands below my waist," Gretchen replied, a slight disappointment in her voice.
"It was too tempting when we were that age," Ferb admitted.
"What about when we got older?" Gretchen asked.
Ferb smirked, "You were always tempting to me, my mischievous minx."
"Really? You never acted upon anything," Gretchen noted.
"It was bad enough my dreams tormented me," Ferb replied.
"How did they torment you?" Gretchen asked.
Ferb ran his fingers down her side, "You, me, a private beach and no inhibitions."
Gretchen shuddered slightly, "Naughty, naughty. Any others?"
Ferb smirked, "Some of them you've done well enough to match."
Gretchen turned red.
"Once we get settled in with Alexander," Ferb said as he ran his fingers through her hair, "maybe we could..."
Gretchen smiled, "We most defiantly could."
The door opened and Shane walked in.
"Getting cozy?" he asked.
Gretchen reddened and Ferb's eyes went wide.
"Don't worry, I think it's cute," Shane said.
Ferb rolled over and got off the bed.
"More people should curl up like that," Shane continued.
"We were just talking," Gretchen said.
"I could see that," Shane replied.
"What did you-" Gretchen began.
Shane cut her off with a "Nothing."
Ferb raised an eyebrow.
"All's I saw was a young couple getting cozy with their newborn son," Shane said.
Gretchen snuggled Alexander closer to herself.
"Most couples don't touch each other while they're here. I mean, they don't give each other a simple kiss, they don't hold hands... nothing. You looked like you might have just finished or were about to start a kiss," Shane said.
Ferb looked to the floor and Gretchen blushed.
"I was right wasn't I?" Shane asked.
Ferb gave a slight nod.
Percy came in with a stuffy, "Now Sha.."
"Perc..." Shane replied.
"How's the new Mommy?" Percy ask as he came over to hug Gretchen, and he saw Alexander beside her, "And the little man. He's got your eyes."
"Percy, it's good to see you too," Gretchen replied, with a slight smile.
Percy turned to Ferb, "Does the green skip a generation or two?"
Ferb shrug, "It might. My grandfather apparently had it."
"It doesn't matter as long as the little man is happy and healthy," Percy said.
Ferb nodded.
"True," Shane remarked.
"I'm just relieved he's fine," Gretchen said.
"He arrived early didn't he?" Percy asked.
"Yeah, almost a month early," Gretchen replied.
"That's why we're taking Ferb out for drinks tonight," Shane said.
"Ah," Percy said.
"Today is something to celebrate," Shane said with a grin.
"I'm warning you now Shane, Ferb can hold his own quite well," Gretchen said, both eyebrows raised.
"Noted," Shane replied.
"I noticed that you didn't have as bad as a reaction as Phineas or Isabella did on that one birthday of his," Ferb said, with a glance at his wife.
Gretchen shrugged, "You found out the reasoning behind that on our honeymoon."
Ferb nodded, then turned to the two men, "I need to stop at home first. I've got a quick something I need to take care of."
"Not a problem," Percy replied.
"We'll come with you, Percy's driving after all," Shane said.
Ferb shrugged, "If you insist."
Ferb left with the couple and it was a little more than half an hour when Phineas arrived with his daughter and fiancée. Gretchen had the TV going on the current newscast; she muted it as they walked in.
"Hey," Phineas greeted.
"Hello Phineas," Gretchen returned.
"Where's Ferb?" Phineas asked looking for his brother.
Gretchen smiled slightly, "Shane insisted on taking him out tonight."
"We'll have to treat you guys out, or in... whatever your preference," Phineas offered.
"That's not necessary," was Gretchen's quick protest.
"Of course it is, you and Ferb hosted a barbecue and catered party when Lillian was born," Sienna replied.
Gretchen flashed another slight smile.
"Where is your son?" Phineas asked.
"In the bassinet," Gretchen replied.
Lillian tilted her head.
"Do you mind if I pick him up?" Phineas asked.
"Not at all," Gretchen replied.
"Are you okay Auntie?" Lillian asked.
"Yes, of course," Gretchen replied to the four year old as she sat up in bed.
"You look sad," Lillian said.
"Hey Sienna, remember when Lillian was this small?" Phineas whispered to the Dutch woman.
Sienna smiled softly, "Yes."
Phineas gently passed Alexander to his mother.
"What's that?" Lillian asked, curious.
"Lillian, that's your baby cousin," Phineas explained gently.
"His name is Alexander," Gretchen said.
"Can I see?" Lillian asked.
"Of course, come sit beside me," Gretchen said.
Lillian climbed up onto bed, and sat beside Gretchen, "Is this a doll?"
"No honey, Alexander is a baby," Gretchen replied.
"Why is her name Alexander?" Lillian asked.
Phineas chuckled lightly, "Alexander is a boy."
"Like you and Uncle Ferb, and Uncle Jeremy, Daddy?" Lillian asked.
"Yes," Phineas replied.
"Is he sleeping?" Lillian asked.
"Yes," Gretchen replied.
"Why?" Lillian inquired.
"Because he's really tired," Sienna answered this time.
"Can he wake up and play?" Lillian asked.
"He'll wake up soon, but he won't be able to play for a while," Gretchen replied.
"He's boring," Lillian remarked, puffing some of her sandy hair out of her eyes.
"Lillian!" Phineas scolded.
"It's true, babies don't do much, but he'll grow soon and then he'll be able to play," Gretchen said.
"Really?" Lillian asked.
"Really," Gretchen confirmed.
Lillian tilted her head, "He's small."
Gretchen giggled, "He's only twelve hours old."
Lillian's eyes widened.
"He's brand new," Sienna remarked.
"Lillian, would you like to take a walk?" Phineas asked quickly.
"Why?" Lillian asked.
"Let's go for a walk baby girl," Phineas said firmly, lifting the girl off the hospital bed.
Lillian sighed, "Okay."