Merry Christmas 2017

Twenty-year-old Isabella smiled at Phineas as she handed him a glass of eggnog. "Thanks" he replied with a chuckle as he took the glass from her.

Adyson disconnected the call and put her phone away, then turned to Ginger. "Buford has to pick someone up from the airport, then he'll stop by." Ginger nodded and took a sip of her latte.

The door to the coffee shop opened and Holly entered, stomping the snow from her boots. Katie brushed the snow from her coat and clapped her mitted hands together, then took her toque off then stuffed it into her coat pocket.

"Are you in need of another beverage?" Baljeet inquired of Ginger who glanced into the bottom of her mug. "Sure, sounds great. Thanks."

Adyson glanced over to the fireplace where Ferb was sitting, nursing a hot chocolate. "He looks so sad." Ginger looked over. "Gretchen's not here. She's visiting family in Germany."

Milly got up from the table, where she was sitting with Django, and went to draw herself another beverage.

Adyson excused herself from Ginger and went to sit across from Ferb. "This seat taken?" She inquired as she plopped down in an empty chair. Ferb gave no response. He didn't even blink - he was looking into the fire.

Adyson took a sip of her drink. "I just wanted to say… Merry Christmas." She started and paused for a few moments to see if he would give any indication he heard her. She sighed and leaned back into the chair, to get more comfortable.

Isabella pulled back from the kiss she was sharing with her fiancee. "Your brother's really bringing the spirit of this party down. Why is he even here?" Phineas kept his hands on her waist. "I had to get him out of his apartment. It's been five days since he's been out. He cancelled dinner with Mom and Dad the other night… that's out of character for him. I know he misses Gretchen, but she's not coming back 'till New Year's Eve."

Isabella rolled her eyes. "Still. It feels awkward. We're all having fun and he's sitting in a corner.

Another two hours passed by with some party goers leaving and others arriving. The door to the coffee shop opened and Buford entered. He looked around then gestured to a smaller figure.

Buford nodded to Adyson who made eye-contact with Isabella and Phineas, the later turning the music off.

Buford moved to stand in front of Ferb. "Hey Beanpole. Merry Christmas." Ferb offered a non-committal shrug in response. Buford then glanced at Gretchen.

Gretchen slipped out of her coat and stepped up behind Ferb, placing her hands on his shoulders. She leaned over, "Merry Christmas." she whispered in his ear.

No one, except Phineas, had ever seen Ferb move so fast. He was standing, facing Gretchen. It was obvious that his brain was unable to comprehend what he knew and what he was seeing. "I… I-I thought you said…" He tried.

She nodded, tears in her eyes, "I couldn't not spend Christmas with you."