Day twenty of MerMay prompt month.

And we are caught up. I'm hopeful that I can finish the next chapter today—I promise to do my best, at least.

So the first line here in the italics... It was what came to mind when I had the Sun and Moon prompts. You'll see the same in the next chapter about how Isabella is like the sun... so yeah. Enjoy the Ferbellaness! We're getting into the coupley stuff now. Yay!

Moon - Isabella

[Ferb is like the moon: calming, peaceful, and a glimmer of hope in the darkness.]

Isabella thought for a moment that she saw something hanging off of the ocean buoy. It was something odd that caught her attention—something green against the bright red that didn't belong. The buoy bounced and swayed with the waves, but there wasn't anything else there. She turned away, shouldering her bag and headed for her bike, shrugging it off as just a reflection of sunlight or something.

Her day had been relaxing. She had been able to get her room clean, which she had been putting off for a while—since she was spending more time at the dock than she usually did. And she had made some cookies for a snack, which was always a good thing. Though… knowing her parent's weakness for chocolate chip, there might not be any left by the time she got home.

She hurried even though she knew she could always make more. But she was tired and she found herself yawning as she turned the corner onto her street. She could see Gretchen pulling something out of the back of her little car, parked on the side of the street in front of her house. "You're not done yet?" she asked as she biked past her friend, startling her.

Gretchen made a face at her, pulling out a backpack and a pillow. "I just started actually." She grinned smugly. "Your mom and I ate the last of the cookies while we were waiting for you."

Isabella turned from where she parked her bike, gaping at her. "How dare you! And after I agreed to share my room with you." The two girls giggled and Isabella opened the door for the both of them.

"We made it up to you by mixing up some peanut butter cookie dough," Gretchen reassured her. "We can take an hour and get those baked before going to sleep."

Isabella smirked. "Or we could just eat the dough ourselves and not bring the boys cookies tomorrow."

Gretchen hummed thoughtfully but she shook her head. With a sheepish smile she admitted, "I already promised Buford some cookies."

Isabella sighed, but the lighthearted twinkle in her eye betrayed her. "You're too good for him sometimes," she said.

Gretchen smiled. "He's just as good for me," she stated. Isabella nodded in agreement.

As kids she never would have imagined Buford being a part of a relationship that was goal worthy. But when they reached high school, he really grew into a really good guy. Gretchen and Buford had started dating in the middle of their third year in high school, after getting paired up for a project. (The teachers of their school were total shippers.)

He said once that all he needed to do to be a good partner to Gretchen was to do the opposite of everything his father had done. He was wholly committed to her, and he never let her doubt it. They weren't even engaged yet, but they talked about their future as if it was a sure thing—and to them it probably was.

Isabella remembered her mom once saying, after her break up with Balthazar, that high school relationships hardly ever stuck. But, after seeing the success Candace and Jeremy had from practically day one, and watching as Buford and Gretchen just clicked so well, Isabella realized something.

It wasn't high school relationships that were the problem, it was the immaturity most high schoolers had. Having someone who is willing to grow with you, and support you with your own growth, was the key. In her observations of high school and the kids who would come into the restaurant for dinner dates, Isabella had noticed that a lot of teenagers seemed to get into relationships simply for the sake of being in a relationship. They expected it to be easy, and when something became difficult, they decided that something was wrong with the other person and they were done.

With maturity, though, came the understanding that people were not perfect, and two people together were less perfect. Being in a true partnership took a lot of effort and a lot of give. And in every successful pairing Isabella had in her life, they all followed those rules.

Isabella set her bag on a chair in the kitchen, washing her hands and starting with the cookies, while Gretchen took her sleepover stuff upstairs. They had an early morning to get ready for, but first.

Cookies.

Yum.

The next morning, Isabella and Gretchen were both feeling quite awake as they headed across the street—Isabella because she was often up to watch the sunrise; Gretchen because, though she didn't like waking up, once she was awake that was it for the day. Phineas and Buford were already out and about, the former jock gruffly putting stuff wherever Phineas said to, speaking mainly in grunts. He was not a morning person.

Phineas, on the other hand, was as bright and ready for the day as he ever was. He was bringing stuff out from the garage for Buford to move around, so Isabella walked over to him, holding the covered platter of cookies. She could see Gretchen catching Buford empty handed before he could shuffle back to the garage for more things, waking him up with a kiss that was awkward to watch. Isabella turned back to Phineas.

"Hey Phineas!" she greeted. "I'm here to help. What can I do?"

Phineas smiled brightly. "Can you help me stand up these poles? It's where the sheet will go for the projector."

Isabella nodded. "Of course. Let me hand these off first." She hurried back to Gretchen, thankfully no longer connected to her boyfriend, and handed her the plate.

Buford, as if he was called by the sugar, popped up from behind her shoulder. Without even a blink, Gretchen pulled a cookie out and handed it to him saying, "No more until you've had breakfast."

Buford pouted and followed after her into the kitchen, pleading for "Just one more!"

Isabella helped Phineas carry the poles to their designated places, both of them feeling grateful they weren't very heavy. When Isabella turned around to get the sheet, she jumped back.

Ferb was standing behind her. She hadn't heard him at all! "Don't do that!" she declared, holding a hand to her beating heart.

Ferb shrugged apologetically, but her near-shout had caught the Phineas's attention.

"Ferb! You're here, great. You can help us get the sheet up!" the redhead said, running over with the white fabric. Isabella wondered for a second where Ferb had been so early, but then she saw that his hair was wet and figured he had showered before coming down. She followed the brothers over to the poles and helped them straighten the fabric, stringing it up the poles like a giant banner.

Once that was up, Phineas ran inside and started throwing blankets, quilts, pillows, and anything else people could sit on out the window for Isabella and Ferb to lay out for whoever came over. When the last of them came billowing down, Phineas reappeared and started fiddling with the projector.

Isabella noticed Ferb's hair wasn't braided like usual, just pulled back into a short ponytail, and it was looking a little scraggly. She grabbed his hand. "Come on," she said, pulling him towards a blanket that was laid out. He raised an eyebrow at her, but didn't ask. She pointed at the blanket and ordered, "Sit," before she hurried over to grab a bucket.

Ferb was watching her, sitting on the blanket as she requested, but his eyes lit with understanding when she put the bucket behind him, upside down so she could sit on it. He sat still, letting her pull the small band out of his hair and run her fingers through the little tangles.

Buford and Gretchen walked out of the kitchen, carrying various breakfast foods. Both stopped and stared at Isabella playing with Ferb's hair. "Uh…" Buford shared a contemplative look with his girlfriend.

At the sound of his voice, Isabella glanced over. She smiled. "Gretchen! Could you ask Linda for a comb please?" she asked.

Gretchen blinked once before shaking herself out of her thoughts. "Uh, sure. I can do that." She shared another look with Buford, silently agreeing to not mention it right now.

Later was fair game though. For the both of them.

Phineas had the first movie going before Isabella finished braiding Ferb's hair. He patted the plait and smiled back at her. "Thanks," he said. "I was in a hurry this morning."

Isabella grinned. "No problem." She picked up the stool, putting it back against the garage where she found it, and headed towards the food table. Piling a bowl high with fruits, pastries, and the like, she went and sat back next to Ferb. She didn't even think about finding a different place.

She was reaching for a piece of honeydew melon that was sitting on top when another's fingers snagged it before hers could. She pulled her dish away from her blanket buddy. "Excuse me! This is my food."

Ferb shrugged, chewing the melon. "You put it right in front of me, what did you expect?"

"It was not in front of you, it was in front of me. Because it's mine."

Ferb raised an eyebrow, but nodded in defeat. Isabella watched him with narrowed eyes, but slowly pulled her dish back into her lap so she could eat.

Within minutes, Ferb stole a biscuit.

"Hey!" Isabella exclaimed, setting the bowl aside and grasping for the treat to get it back from him.

He held it above his head, out of reach. She scowled, but Isabella wasn't one to let height stop her from accomplishing something. She got up onto her knees, still trying to get it back. Ferb fell backwards, still playing keep away, and she followed him down—both of them laughing.

Finally she reached the biscuit, gripping what she could and they each ended up with half. Isabella sat back in her spot, glaring at him. "Mine," she stated.

Ferb pouted playfully. "But it's better when you take it from someone else," he claimed, taking a bite of his half of pastry.

She scowled. "That is a lie and you know it. Stop taking my food."

Neither saw the two sets of eyes watching them, nor both people wearing matching grins.

They were well into the second movie, both Ferb and Isabella having traveled to different blankets as more people arrived. Isabella was laying on her stomach, sketching instead of paying attention to a movie she'd seen before, when someone flopped down onto the blanket next to her. She looked up, startled, and she beamed. "Adyson!" she exclaimed, sitting up to squeeze her. Adyson wasn't even supposed to be in town for another week!

Her cry alerted the other girls to their friend's appearance, and soon there was a dogpile on the laughing brunette. "Guys! Get off of me!" Slowly the girls moved from laying across Adyson to sitting around her.

"When did you get in?" Ginger asked her.

Adyson shrugged. "About two in the morning last night."

Isabella blinked and studied her face. She did look tired, purple bags under her eyes. "Why did you come? You should have slept in!"

The brunette pulled out a thermos from her bag, giving it a swish. "That's what coffee's for," she said bluntly, popping up the cap and taking a long swallow.

They continued chattering for a while before Buford complained about their noise. "At least move off that way!" he pleaded, pointing off to the back corner away from the speakers.

With rolling eyes, most of the girls did so. Holly was gazing up at the actor on screen, her eyes bright. "I'll be right there," she said dreamily, making the rest of them giggle.

"So Gretch, what exactly did you need me here for?"

"Just watch."

"Is that Ferb?"

"Uh huh."

"He looks good."

"Don't get any ideas, Ady. I think he might be called for."

"What do you mean? Wait… What? What are they doing?"

"Eating each others food. It's been like a running gag all day."

"No, no. That's not just eating each other's food. That's flirting. Isabella's flirting?"

"Yup! You should have seen it this morning. She was doing his hair. It was all very domestic."

"Wha—he just pulled her into his lap?! Are they dating?!"

"No idea. Just by judging their behavior towards each other, I would say yes. But they don't seem to realize it…"

"Hmm… I'm beginning to understand why you called me."

"Sorry for waking you so early, but I needed help and none of the rest are willing to confront her with me anymore."

"Don't worry Gretchen. I got this."

Yuki-Onna

Yuki-onna, literally "snow woman", is from Japanese folklore. Legends tell of beautiful women who would come across people living along mountains, asking for shelter and warmth. In some legends she comes across a single man and asks to become his wife. These are the tame legends, where the yuki-onno would end up dissolving into a flurry of snow or becoming thin icicles. Other legends are not so friendly, either tricking people into hugging a child that becomes heavier and heavier during a blizzard, leaving them to freeze to death, or pushing them into a snowy valley if they refuse.

Snegurocha, or "Snow Maiden" is a character in Russian fairy tales. One tale states that she was created from the snow by a childless couple, coming to life to be their child. She grows quickly, but during a game with her friends, where one jumps over a small fire, she evaporates into a small cloud. Another story tells of a goddess who is unable to love, though she does grow to like a shepherd. Her mother takes pity on her and gives her the ability to love, but when she does, her heart warms and she melts.