Gretchen hugged Ferb tight and sobbed into his chest, "I love you so much. I thought I might lose you. I don't know what I'd do if that happened.
Ferb rested his head atop hers, "I love you too, Gretchen. I want you to promise me something.
"Anything," Gretchen replied softly.
"If anything were to happen to me.." Ferb trailed off as he took a breath, "I want you to find happiness again."
"Don't talk like that," Gretchen cried.
"I'm not trying to upset you, love, but-" Ferb started before he got interrupted.
"Please stop," Gretchen's protest was barely above a whisper.
"You said you'd promise me anything," Ferb returned quietly.
"I don't want to think about life without you," She mumbled into his chest.
"Gretchen, We have to be adults about this," Ferb replied quietly but sternly.
She looked up at him, and Ferb could see the tears in her eyes, " I don't know what I'd do without you."
"Dr. Thomas said everything seems to be in order and that I shouldn't have any further damage," Ferb replied.
"They want to run a few more tests on you though," Gretchen noted.
"I was told they're just routine, precautionary tests," Ferb remarked, to which Gretchen nodded.
"Then there's nothing to worry about. I'll be out in a few days and,then we can spend a nice quiet evening together," Ferb added.
"Just you and I?" Gretchen inquired.
"Barring any unforeseen incidents, yes," he promised.
"Want to know what I heard in the radio on my way over here?" Gretchen asked, repressing a giggle.
"What?" Ferb asked, his eyebrow disappearing into his shaggy green bangs.
"That song that you and Phineas wrote when we were kids," Gretchen replied.
Ferb rolled his eyes, "They still play that?"
Gretchen's tone was playful when she answered, "It's catchy."
"Phineas put that together in a matter of hours," Ferb remarked, "He had no idea what the lyrics meant."
"I could be unprofessional and tell everyone there's a celebrity on the floor," Gretchen said.
Ferb's eyes narrowed at her, and she smiled at him, "I'm kidding. I'd never do that to you."
He smirked and replied, "You were one of the back-up singers," His tone became teasing, "I might just let it slip."
His words had the effect of causing her to become flustered, "They don't know that I can- You are so-"
"So what?" Ferb asked quietly.
"So lucky that I have the sense to keep some secrets secret," She answered.
"As do I," Ferb said lightly.
"You're planning something," She said suddenly.
Ferb raised an eyebrow in response.
"I can see that little glint in your eye," Gretchen elaborated as Dr. Duncan Thomas walked over, upon seeing them.
"There's my patient," He remarked.
"I just needed to stretch my legs," Ferb said.
"Is something wrong?" was Gretchen query.
Dr. Thomas laughed lightly, "Your breakfast is getting cold."
Gretchen snickered at this, "You'll want to finish that off before it becomes un-edible.
"What would you suggest as an alternative, nurse Fletcher?" Dr. Thomas directed at the off duty Gretchen.
"A slight variation from his usual. I'd suggest a glass of juice and a plate of toast with jam," Gretchen replied.
"How does that differ from the usual?" Dr. Thomas inquired.
"Ferb usually has either a coffee or tea with his breakfast," Gretchen replied.
"But I'm not supposed to have caffeine for the foreseeable future," Ferb said with a sigh.
"If you want I could-" Gretchen began to offer to go off caffeine with him.
"I wouldn't do that to you," Ferb cut across her, knowing full well that it would not bode well if both weren't to have caffeine.
"I'm sure this discussion can be continued in his room?" Dr. Thomas suggested and both Ferb and Gretchen nodded.
It was late afternoon when Gretchen's father stopped by to visit. The Germanic man sat next to his daughter. He ran a quick hand through his now salt and pepper hair and fixed his sharp sea blue-green eyes on his son-in-law. It was obvious that the older man came from work as he was still in his dress pants, dress shirt and tie.
"How are you feeling son?" He inquired.
Ferb gave a nod, "I'm fine."
Will gave the green-haired Brit a stern look, and Gretchen quickly spoke up, "Dad, please. I-we don't want-"
"I'm genuinely concerned for him, dear," Will told his daughter, who didn't look entirely convinced.
"Gretchen, I am concerned for him," Will insisted, knowing full well that she was very strong willed, like himself.
"It's okay love," Ferb reassured her.
Gretchen sat back and observed her father and husband talk.
"I called your supervisor and told him that you were taking a couple of weeks off," Will said.
Ferb raised an eye brow in response to this information.
"I didn't tell him anything. I suggested he back down if he wanted to keep you in his department," Will answered the unasked question.
"You threatened him?" Gretchen asked him in disbelief while Ferb snickered.
"No. I threatened to transfer Ferb to my department," Will replied.
"Dad," Gretchen sighed.
"What? I'm keeping the best interests of my daughter and son-in-law at heart," Will told her, to which she muttered something under her breath.
Ferb smirked then said, "I heard that."
"Don't worry about a thing Ferb. Trudy will help out around the house and prepare some meals for you," Will said.
"Dad! I'm his wife. I can cook you know," Gretchen's voice was raised and rose another octave.
"I know that dear. However, you still have to work and we're just trying to help out the best we can," Will told his daughter calmly.
Gretchen turned her back to him and pouted. Will flicked her in the back of the head. Gretchen glanced over at him, less than amused.
"Stop acting like a child," Will told her, then turned to Ferb, "By the way Ferb, Lawrence called. Linda will stop by this evening to visit with you. She's helping Trudy get some things prepared at the moment."
Ferb's eyebrow rose, and Gretchen looked sharply at her father, "What's mom doing?"
"You'll see," Will returned.
"Dad," Gretchen looked at him.
"You shouldn't worry about it," Will informed his daughter and Ferb's eyebrow rose higher.
"I must get home now," he offered a hand to Ferb, "You'd better feel better soon, she needs to relax," Will told him with a wink.
"DAD! You're telling Ferb he needs to-" Gretchen shot at her father before getting interrupted.
"You are married dear, I'm fully aware of what happens behind closed doors without being told," Will cut her off.
Gretchen turned red and muttered, "I can't believe you just said that."
Ferb laughed lightly.
Will smirked slightly, "I remember the things your mother and I got-"
Gretchen turned crimson, "Dad! I'd rather not know."
"All right then. I really must get going, get better son," Will left with that parting comment.
"That was embarrassing," Gretchen muttered as she sat beside Ferb on the hospital bed.
Ferb pulled her close, "I think it's a good idea, though not here."
Gretchen playfully pushed him, "Oh, you'd like that wouldn't you?"
Ferb's eyes went wide, "Actually no," he then whispered something in her ear that caused her to flush a bright red again.
"You're terrible Ferb," Gretchen said before kissing him.
Ferb broke the kiss and smirked at her, "Oh really?"
"Maybe," Gretchen replied slyly.
The male nurse on duty, Demetri came in. He gave a slight cough upon seeing the two on the bed. Gretchen quickly pulled away from Ferb. She looked up at him, a flush of red highlighting her cheeks.
"That's an interesting technique you've got there, Fletcher," He remarked.
Gretchen's blush darkened and Ferb chuckled.
Demetri checked his notes, "Mister Fletcher…oh, you're married."
"Thanks for that observation, Demetri," Gretchen shot at him, sarcasm dripping from her words.
"Well it now makes sense why you are allowed to-" He began.
"I'm off duty Demetri," Gretchen cut across him.
"Okay then Fletcher," Demetri said with a smirk.
"No strenuous activity. And you know exactly what that includes," Gretchen retorted.
"Yes, Ma'am," Ferb told her, smirking.
Gretchen playfully pushed Ferb, "I'll make sure there's no strenuous activities."
Ferb looked over at Demetri and mouthed, 'She won't last the week.'
Demetri laughed.
Gretchen looked at her husband who pulled an innocent look, "You are so bad."
He smirked at her. She stood up and headed towards the door.
"I'm going to use the rest room. You just do whatever needs to be done," She said, directing the last part at Demetri as she exited the room.
"Wow, she's not usually flustered," Demetri observed.
Ferb gave a shrug. Demetri checked his vitals.
"You've got a test booked in a half an hour," He told Ferb and when he nodded: "It's just a routine test. It's not painful."
Ferb shrugged.
No discomfort?" Demetri inquired.
Ferb shook his head.
"Positive?" Demetri asked.
Ferb nodded.
"All right then. I'll be back in a half hour to take you for your test," Demetri informed him and then left the room, running into Gretchen outside the door.
"Your husband is taking this whole ordeal in stride," He told her.
"What do you mean?" Gretchen asked.
"Most people, after a heart attack, are not joking around," Demetri pointed out.
"Ferb's not most people," Gretchen replied and entered the room.
She saw that Ferb was laying on his side. His back was to the door.
"Ferb?" She called out tentatively.
When she got no response she moved closer and rested her hand on his shoulder, "Ferb?"
He didn't respond to neither her touch nor her voice.
She became worried, "Ferb?
"I'm scared. I realize that the heart attack was mild even compared to the last one. I just don't know what the tests are going to show," He rolled over to look at her, "What if-"
Gretchen sat beside him and played with a lock of his hair, "You'll be fine. I work on this floor fairly often. I've seen people in worse shape than you pull through with flying colors."
Ferb sat up a little bit and looked in to her eyes, "You're lying."
Gretchen looked away from him.
"Gretchen," Ferb called her name gently.
She looked anywhere but at him.
"Gretchen, look at me," Ferb said a little more forcefully.
"I don't want to believe this is happening," She said, finally looking at him.
"Is there something I should know?" He asked.
Gretchen shook her head.
"Tell me," he said gently.
"Do you really-" Gretchen began before Ferb interrupted.
"We promised each other when we got married-" Ferb was cut off by Gretchen.
"I know, no secrets. I'm not trying to keep a secret from you. I'm just asking if you really want to know," Gretchen said.
"I don't want to hear it from the doctor, at least if you know anything about it," Ferb remarked.
Gretchen sighed, "Okay. This is just my observations, I'm not permitted to access to your chart."
Ferb nodded.
"The heart attack was minor."
Another nod.
"I know you've normally got low blood pressure."
Yet another nod.
"If your blood pressure stays too low, that can cause further infarctions and other…things.."
"Like?" Ferb inquired.
"You could slip into shock at any given time," Gretchen mumbled, as she stared at the floor.
"Anything else?" Ferb asked.
"Heart disease, stroke, kidney failure…" Gretchen trailed off and covered her face with her hands and began to sob uncontrollably.
Ferb simply held her. While he was holding her, Demetri returned with a wheelchair.
"Time to get ready for-" he began.
"Just a moment. Please," Ferb said.
Demetri looked between Gretchen and Ferb, "Is something the matter? Should I call a doctor in?"
Ferb nodded and Demetri quickly exited the room.
"Gretch, the last thing we need is for you to-" Ferb muttered quietly into her ear.
"Is something wrong in here?" Dr. Thomas asked.
"What is my prognosis?" Ferb inquired in reply.
Dr. Thomas looked at the pair, "It's actually very good. We should be able to discharge you home tomorrow or the next day."
"You say I 'should be able to go home'. I'm trying to be realistic and my wife is understandably upset," Ferb said evenly.
"Mister Fletcher, you've got some scheduled tests in a few minutes. While you do that, I'll talk to Gretchen," Dr. Thomas replied.
Ferb nodded in reply and sat in the wheelchair. Demetri rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. He didn't like intruding on personal moments.
"Go ahead Demetri, I'll be down shortly," Dr. Thomas told the nurse.
"All right," Demetri said and wheeled Ferb out of the room.
"Gretchen.." Dr. Thomas said, giving her a stern look.
"You're going to tell me that I'm making the situation worse by telling him everything that could go wrong," Gretchen spoke, without looking up at him.
"Yes. The preliminary tests we've run show that there's a mild arrhythmia. You know, just as well as I do, that's nothing to get worked up over," Dr. Thomas said giving his notes a glance.
"I wasn't aware of any arrhythmia," Gretchen said with a slight frown.
"That might be new. Now my patient is having tests and I will know shortly what the extent of the damage is. Until then I would like you to go for a walk and relax. Your stressing out is causing him to stress out," Dr. Thomas replied.
"I could use a coffee," Gretchen said quietly.
"You go get one. Just don't let your husband have one," He replied.
"I didn't intend to cause him such problems, Duncan," Gretchen said with a slight sigh.
"Take a breather, go for a walk, get your coffee. I don't want to have to bar you from visiting him," Dr. Thomas repeated himself and gave her a slight warning.
"All right, all right. I surrender," Gretchen replied, raising her hands in defeat.
"I have to make my rounds and then check on my patient," Dr. Thomas told her and held the door open as she left.
_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_
"That's the last test. How do you feel Mister Fletcher?" The technician inquired of Ferb.
"Except for my leg, I feel fine," Ferb replied.
"What's the matter with your leg?" The technician inquired.
"I guess I'm in worse shape than I thought," Ferb said with a sigh.
Dr. Thomas flipped through some recent printouts, "Ferb?" he asked.
Ferb raised an eyebrow in response.
Dr. Thomas kept looking through the printouts and comparing those to old ones," This is very interesting."
Ferb gave him an expectant look.
"I've looked over Dr. Hirano's old chart notes from last time and this is very interesting," Dr. Thomas continued.
"And that would be?" Ferb inquired.
"Well, Ferb, you see.." Dr. Thomas trailed off when Ferb raised his eyebrow.
" bad news is, you did have a heart attack," Dr. Thomas continued.
Ferb nodded, "Okay..."
"The good news, and there's a fair bit, is that everything's fine. Your lab work is better now than it was seven years ago. Your chest x-ray is unchanged. Your echocardiogram and stress tests, that you just completed, are just slightly above normal for your age. You have a mild arrhythmia that I would like to monitor for the next six months, but that's nothing to be worried about," Dr. Thomas explained.
"What does this mean?" Ferb asked, worry in his tone.
"You're healthy. Now don't think you're going to go run the Danville Marathon this weekend, because that might actually kill you. However, if you take things easy for the next couple of weeks you will be back to where you were before the heart attack," Dr. Thomas answered with a slight smile.
Ferb nodded in reply.
"You have a visitor by the way," Dr. Thomas informed him.
Ferb gave another nod.
"Demetri, would you mind taking Mr. Fletcher back to his room now?" Dr. Thomas asked.
Demetri gave a nod, "Sure thing Doc."
Linda was sitting in Ferb's room when he arrived back. Linda stood up and crossed over to Ferb.
"Oh, honey. How are you feeling?" She asked.
Ferb cautiously got out of wheelchair, "I feel fine Mum."
"Your father told me that you and Phineas got into an argument," Linda said and Ferb gave a nod in response.
"You're not going to tell me what it was about are you?" Linda inquired.
Ferb shook his head, "I'm going to have a discussion with Phin if he visits or when I get out of here."
"Is it going to cause you to come back here?" Linda inquired.
Ferb shook his head again, "The Doctor said I'm fine."
"Trudy and I stopped by your place and we noticed that-" Linda started but Ferb interrupted her.
"Gretchen's around here somewhere. Dr. Thomas had a wee chat with her," He said.
Linda cocked her head to one side, "When you say 'wee chat' that's never good."
Ferb gave a shrug.
"What does the doctor have to say to Gretchen?" Linda inquired.
Ferb shook his head, "Nothing, forget I said anything. You mentioned that you were in the house?"
"Yes. Trudy and I noticed that your fridge was bare except for a bit of left over chicken, a block of cheese and a bowl full of candied fruits. Trudy said that's part of a Christmas dessert," Linda replied.
Ferb thought for a moment then blinked, "One of us was going to go shopping the other day, but..." He then gestured around hospital room.
"Ferb sweetie, Trudy also noticed that you've got four actual bedrooms that are not in use in your house," Linda said.
"One is my home office. Another we're using as a library," Ferb replied.
"Is something going on between you and-" Linda tried asking.
"Nothing we can't manage," Ferb interrupted.
"Why are-" Linda was interrupted again by Gretchen coming into the room.
"Um, hi Mrs. Flynn-Fletcher," Gretchen said upon noticing the older woman sitting in the chair near her husband's bed.
Linda made to leave, "I'll leave you two-"
"Actually, I have to get going. I have to do some laundry and I work tomorrow," Gretchen said a bit quietly and quickly.
"Are you okay going home alone?" Ferb inquired.
"Yes. I'll see you tomorrow," Gretchen replied.
"Drive safely dear. The roads are treacherous," Linda advised the young woman.
Gretchen nodded, "Thank you," She turned to Ferb and said to him in a small voice, "I'll try to stop by after my shift tomorrow."
Ferb cast his gaze down, "I look forward to your visit."
After Gretchen had left, Linda crossed her arms over her chest, "What was that?"
"Nothing," Ferb quietly responded.
"Clearly that was something."
"It's nothing."
"Ferb."
"It's nothing," Ferb said a little forcefully.
"How do you expect people to help you if you don't let them know what's wrong?" Linda asked him.
Ferb's eyes went wide and his voice rose as he spoke, "Nothing is wrong. Everything is fine. Who said I wanted help?"
Linda held her hands up, "Calm down..."
Ferb became more irate, "Calm down? Why does everyone always tell me to calm down?"
The door opened and the male nurse on duty came in. He noticed the expression on Ferb's and Linda's faces.
"Everything okay in here?" he asked.
"Just peachy," Ferb managed to mutter.
The nurse looked at him, "Mr. Fletcher, I quite frankly find that hard to believe."
Linda took this as a sign to leave, "I'll see you later Ferb. Please, just relax."
Ferb scowled.
"I need to check your blood pressure now," The male nurse told him.
Ferb extended his arm.
"Just relax," the nurse said as he took the readings, "That's all I need for now."
Ferb nodded in reply.
"Dr. Thomas will be stopping by in a little while to check on you," The nurse remarked and simply got another nod in reply from Ferb.
It was a short while before Dr. Thomas came into Ferb's room. He made note that for the first time that day, it was just Ferb in the room.
"Ah, been a while since it was just you in here," Dr. Thomas remarked.
"Gretchen said she had to go home, otherwise she would be here," Ferb replied.
"Not many patients are so fortunate to have family who visit," Dr. Thomas pointed out.
"We're close," Ferb said simply.
"I can tell. It must be comforting, yet suffocating, to have everyone know everything that happens in your personal life," Dr. Thomas commented.
"They don't know everything," Ferb said with a shrug.
"Does Gretchen?" Dr. Thomas inquired.
"Of course she knows," Ferb paused to take a breath in an attempt to calm down, "Her concerns are my concerns and the reverse is also true."
"You must care for her an awful lot," Dr. Thomas noted.
"I love her, what else is there to say?" Ferb replied.
Gretchen pulled up to house and parked on side of road, the driveway needed to be shoveled. She got out of her car and tromped through the snow. She was making a mental list of what needed to be done. She fumbled with her keys for a few moments; recently, she had not been getting proper sleep. When she went inside she found her mother cooking up a storm in the kitchen. There were two large soup pots cooking on the stove in addition to two slow cookers going.
"Mom? What are you doing here?" Gretchen asked the older woman.
"I'm preparing a couple of meals for you dear. I thought it would be easier on Ferb to have something in the fridge or freezer ready to pull out and heat up. How's he doing, by the way?" Trudy gave her daughter a reply.
"Just great. He should be discharged tomorrow," Gretchen answered the question.
"That's good news. I'm sure he'd like to rest properly in his own bed," Trudy said giving a slight smile.
"I'm sure he would," Gretchen replied sadly.
Trudy's brow crinkled, "Is something wrong dear?"
Gretchen shook her head, "No... I just need to do some laundry."
"Gretchen, I'm your mother, I can always tell when something's bothering you," Trudy said gently.
"Everything's fine. I need to get the laundry started, then I need to shovel the driveway," Gretchen replied.
"Phineas said that he'll stop by and shovel the driveway for you after dinner," Trudy remarked.
"He should stay home with his family and let me take care of mine," Gretchen said evenly.
Trudy walked over to Gretchen and took her by the arm. She switched to German, "You're taking on too much. Everyone wants to help you out, let us. Your father would have shoveled the driveway this morning, however he was called into the office."
Gretchen dropped into the same language, "I'm not a little kid anymore."
"You're only twenty-one. You're taking on too much. I can tell that you're stressed," Trudy pointed out.
"I'm fine," Gretchen replied, tears threatening to fall.
"Then why are you about to cry?" Trudy inquired gently.
"My husband had a heart attack and he's in hospital. How would you react if that happened to Dad?" Gretchen shot back.
"I would be upset. I would also take comfort that he was getting the best care there is. Not to mention I would be grateful that I had family who cared about me and were offering assistance," Trudy answered.
Gretchen started to cry. Trudy nudged her daughter towards the couch. She sat with Gretchen, letting her cry while Trudy hugged her.
"Greta ,honey, tell me what's bothering you," Trudy said softly.
Gretchen sniffed, "Do you promise not to tell anyone? Especially Ferb?"
"Of course I won't," Trudy replied gently.
Gretchen stared at her hands for a few minutes. Trudy waited patiently for Gretchen to speak. She knew the younger woman needed a few minutes to allow her mind to put things together before speaking.
"We've been...having difficulties," Gretchen said slowly.
Trudy held her daughter, "I'm listening."
"Well, Ferb and I were dating for a few years before we got engaged," Gretchen started quietly.
Trudy nodded; She knew this.
"I was so glad that you and Dad let me marry him, even though I was only nineteen," Gretchen admitted.
"At first, we thought you were expecting. When you assured us that wasn't the case, we thought it best for you to be married before you became a mother," Trudy replied.
"That's the problem. I've been married for two years and I still don't have a child," Gretchen said quietly.
"I'm going to tell you something that only your father and I know," Trudy said.
"What is it?" Gretchen asked.
"I'm actually surprised you didn't figure this out for yourself," Trudy replied.
"Figure what out?" Gretchen inquired.
"When is your brother's birthday?"
"September."
"When is our anniversary?"
"December."
"You never realized that Greg was born three months before your father and I got married?"
Gretchen shook her head, "I didn't give it much thought...Is that why you two thought I was-"
"Yes. We were concerned about it," Trudy replied quickly.
"Did you two wait to have me?" Gretchen's question just slipped out.
Trudy gave a light laugh, "Gretchen, there's six years between you and your brother. You tell me."
Gretchen blushed, "Right."
"That's why when you were fifteen and your father thought you were pregnant..." Trudy began.
"He kicked Ferb out," Gretchen interrupted.
Trudy nodded, "That's why when Ferb asked for your hand when you were nineteen, though we were hesitant, we gave our blessing. Ferb had every right to never want anything to do with our family again after the way he was treated."
"He told me that he would have managed if I chose to move on and not be with him anymore," Gretchen said quietly.
"You were too in love with him for that to happen," her mother replied gently.
"I don't think he would have," Gretchen said softly.
"You don't?" Trudy inquired.
"I could see it in his eyes that he was relieved that I chose to stay with him. And there were some rumors that had come up around the same time," Gretchen stared at the floor.
"What sort of rumors?" Trudy asked.
"Well, there was one at the beginning of that year stating that I was pregnant; which I wasn't. When I first heard of it and told Ferb... he said that it would be obvious in after few months that it was false," Gretchen answered lifting her head up.
"He always did have a head on his shoulders," Trudy commented with a nod.
"The other... rumor..." Gretchen gave a sob, "was that he and I were married."
"Who would start a rumor such as that?" Trudy inquired, confused.
"A so-called 'friend'. All because Ferb didn't return to England at the end of the summer and he was living with us," Gretchen replied.
"That wasn't very nice of them," Trudy remarked.
"It was very obvious that we weren't," Gretchen muttered.
"Have you two talked to the person who started the marriage rumor?" Trudy asked.
"It doesn't matter now," Gretchen mumbled.
"How does this relate to you not having a child?" Trudy inquired.
Gretchen gave a sniff followed by a sob. She wiped her eyes, "Ferb and I have been trying, really trying for the past while and I'm still barren."
"Greta, you need to relax," Trudy told her gently.
"That's what everyone keeps telling me. Even Dad and Ferb were joking about how when he gets out of hospital he needs to make me relax," Gretchen replied.
Trudy gave a light laugh.
"Ferb's not supposed to have any strenuous activities for a while. He then jokes that I 'won't last the week'," Gretchen continued.
Trudy started laughing harder.
Gretchen turned a bright red, "Mom!"
"You do need to relax, and that is the best method," Trudy replied.
Gretchen turned a darker red, "Mom!"
"Honey, you are smart and Ferb is wise. I have a feeling, that if you let him, Ferb will make all your dreams come true. You'll be pregnant before you know it," Trudy told her gently.
Gretchen sobbed and shook her head, "I don't want Ferb's back to go out and I don't want him to have another heart attack."
Trudy took Gretchen's face in her hands, "Look at me. Now, does Ferb complain about his back?"
"Sometimes," Gretchen replied.
"How many times has he had a heart attack?" Trudy inquired.
"Twice," Gretchen mumbled.
"Have you had any of those problems when you two-" Trudy began to ask.
Gretchen flushed red again, "No!"
"Just relax and let nature take it's course," Trudy advised.
"I try to relax," Gretchen replied.
"Do you enjoy it when you are together with Ferb?" Trudy asked.
"Ferb's a very sweet man and I've always enjoyed spending time with him," Gretchen answered.
Trudy shook her head, "Gretchen, do you lose yourself in the moment when you're with him?"
Gretchen turned crimson, "Mother! Of course... What?"
"Do you ever forget everything when you're with him?" Trudy inquired.
Gretchen's brow furrowed, "I'm not sure that-"
"You're not answering the question, dear," Trudy interrupted.
"My mind's constantly thinking of things that have to be done," Gretchen admitted quietly.
"Oh, Greta. That's not healthy," Trudy said gently.
"I've just got so many responsibilities," Was Gretchen's soft protest.
"Can't you take a couple of hours and focus solely on your husband and what you can do with him?" Trudy inquired.
"Mother, that's... a couple of hours? Really?" Gretchen was obviously embarrassed.
Trudy smirked, "How do you think you came to be little missy?"
"I did NOT need to know that," Gretchen muttered.
"You need to clear your mind every once in a while," Trudy said.
"I just can't, I need to make sure that…" Gretchen started to protest.
"Isn't there something Ferb does that makes your mind go numb?" Trudy interrupted her.
"I don't know…. Like what?" Gretchen returned.
"Well, your father would kiss the inside of my elbow," Trudy smiled softly.
Gretchen blinked, "That sounds weird."
"Well that's one thing your father did and still does," Trudy said.
Something came to Gretchen's mind, and she started to turn pink, "Umm..."
"Something coming to mind?" Trudy asked, recognizing the expression on the younger woman's face.
"You promise you won't tell?" Gretchen reddened even more as she asked the question.
"Everything we are discussing will remain between you and I," Trudy assured her daughter.
"Ferb will softly kiss behind my ear and it's the most wonderful feeling," Gretchen admitted softly, a smile coming across her face.
"Have you ever told him that?" Trudy inquired.
Gretchen gave a slight shrug, "He probably figured it out, that's what he does when he's really..." She paused and blushed, "...when he's feeling playful."
Trudy caught the underlying meaning in her daughter's words, "What do you do to him when you're feeling playful?"
Gretchen turned crimson, "Well..."
"Yes?" Trudy prompted.
Gretchen whispered it in her mother's ear.
Trudy gave her daughter a shocked look, "Tell me you get a positive response at least."
Gretchen nodded, "Oh, yes... very positive."
"Would you like me to ask your father to talk with him?" Trudy inquired.
"No! I don't need my father talking to my husband about personal matters," Gretchen replied quickly.
"Are you sure?" Trudy inquired.
"Yes, I'm sure. Did Granddad ever talk to Dad about personal matters?" Gretchen shot back.
"I don't believe so. Why do you ask?" Trudy replied.
Gretchen started getting upset, "Because you're trying to invite everyone into my bedroom! Why not get Ferb's parents involved. Here's an idea, give Candace and Jeremy a call; I'm sure they've got some advice to share. Or Phineas, he doesn't seem to have any trouble in that area. He keeps bringing the subject up every chance he gets!"
"Greta, relax. I'm not trying to upset you," Trudy said gently.
Gretchen got up, "I have to do some laundry."
While Trudy went back to the kitchen and continued with the soups, Gretchen went to the laundry room and lost all of her composure. She was sobbing when her mother came in to check on her.
"Greta, honey," Trudy pulled Gretchen into a hug, "It's okay."
Gretchen continued to sob, "No it's not. Phineas, Linda, everyone tells me that I'll make a great mother some day."
"I'm sure you will make a great mother one day, and I've no doubt that Ferb will be a good father," Trudy said gently.
"I have to finish everything," Gretchen said, pulling away from the hug.
"I'll take care of the laundry. You go take a nap," Trudy said, noting her daughter's overly tired expression.
"I don't want a nap," Gretchen protested.
"I'm not giving you much of an option," Trudy replied, knowing she was up for a little battle.
"I'm not taking-" Gretchen tried protesting again.
"You didn't get much sleep last night did you?" Trudy interrupted.
"Well...no," Gretchen admitted.
"And the night before you slept in an uncomfortable chair and then worked a full shift. You're obviously tired," Trudy pointed out.
Gretchen realized what her mother was up to, "And you're using reverse psychology on me."
"Maybe," Trudy said with a non-committal tone.
Gretchen gave a sob, "Fine. I'll go lie down."
"That's a good girl," Trudy said gently as she watched Gretchen go upstairs.
Gretchen entered her bedroom and lay down on the bed. She kept tossing and turning as she tried to go to sleep. While sleep was refusing to come to Gretchen, Trudy started the laundry and continued with the soups. When the laundry was done, Trudy folded it and placed them in baskets. She then carried them upstairs. Trudy paused at the bedroom door and upon pushing the door open, she found Gretchen had fallen asleep. Trudy smiled slightly to herself then sat on the edge of the bed, and softly sang the same lullaby that Gretchen had sung to Lillian, the night of Ferb's heart attack.
Gretchen groggily lifted her head and mumbled, "Not now, just a few more minutes."
"You don't have to get up," Trudy said quietly and when Gretchen drifted back off, "That's my good girl."
Author's Note: Sabrina06 and I both agreed that when Gretchen is speaking with close family members IE, Will, Trudy and her brother Greg, she would more than likely speak in German. However since Ferb is merely a conversationalist he can't quite keep up when conversations are fast paced. But generally all conversations between Ferb and Gretchen are in English, unless otherwise noted.