"I walked in on Candace and Sienna talking once. I didn't need to hear about…" Phineas paused with a shudder, "let's just say TMI."
Ferb snickered, "You never could deal with the graphic description of-"
"Thank you Ferb," Gretchen cut her husband off before he could complete his statement.
"Gretchen, that's a nice car you've got. Who's your mechanic?" Phineas asked.
Gretchen sighed, then frowned as she tried to remember, "His name escapes me right now for some reason."
Ferb raised an eyebrow.
"Is something wrong?" Gretchen asked Ferb.
Ferb answered when Phineas looked at him, "I'll do most of the work, we take it to the dealership for the trickier repairs."
"I should have known," Phineas said with a wry smile.
"Is there a problem?" Gretchen asked.
Phineas shook his head.
Gretchen tilted her head, "Wasn't the last time we had to take it in last year?"
"Year before that. The Transmission kept sticking," Ferb corrected, meeting Gretchen's eyes with a soft smile.
"That's right. You fixed it, then it got stuck again. You said you could probably change the whole thing if I could do without the car for a couple of weeks," Gretchen said with a nod and returned the smile.
"A couple of weeks?" Phineas asked then turned to Ferb, "Bro, you're slipping."
"That would be because I have to work," Ferb pointed out.
"The gentleman at the dealership did a very good job," Gretchen said, and Ferb gave a nod in agreement.
"Still can't believe you work in an office," Phineas remarked.
Ferb smirked, "Not all the time."
"I've called you at work on a number of occasions and you're always at your desk," Phineas returned, trying to poke a hole in Ferb's statement.
"I'm often on-site and my desk phone is forwarded to my mobile," Ferb explained simply.
"I've stopped by your office and you're at your desk," Phineas commented, trying to poke another hole in Ferb's remark.
Ferb gave shrug, he couldn't help it that he had desk days whenever Phineas decided to stop by.
"You have two desk days a week?" Gretchen asked to refresh her memory, as she didn't stop by Ferb's office too often.
Ferb gave her a nod, and Gretchen was the only person to notice Ferb's subtle glance at her abdomen.
"Were you on-site when we called?" Adyson asked.
Ferb shook his head, "I was working on some blueprints."
Gretchen stood up suddenly, "Who wants coffee?"
Ferb blinked and raised eyebrow at his wife.
"Sure, I could use a cup," Adyson took up the offer.
"Thanks Gretchen," Phineas said as he accepted the offer as well.
Gretchen slipped into the kitchen. Ferb blinked again.
"Do you have any idea what that was about?" Adyson asked the two men.
"No clue, Ferb?" Phineas answered.
Ferb shook his head.
In the kitchen, Gretchen put the coffee on for everyone and got herself a glass of water. Ferb followed her in to the kitchen.
"Love? Is everything all right?" Ferb inquired.
"Right as rain," Gretchen replied.
Ferb pulled out the milk and sugar, then whispered, "Did you tell Adyson?"
Gretchen shook her head, "I just suddenly feel fine."
Ferb raised an eyebrow.
"It's like, now that I know, everything is a-okay," Gretchen admitted.
Ferb slipped his arms around her waist, "That's good."
"I'm going to talk to Eric...Dr. Manson when I go back to work," Gretchen said.
"Okay," Ferb gave a nod.
"The only thing I'm concerned about is that if I'm feeling anxious I get ill," Gretchen sighed.
"Is that what happened today?" Ferb asked.
Gretchen nodded, "Yeah."
"But you're okay now," Ferb prompted.
Gretchen gave another nod, "Yeah."
"And you didn't tell Adyson," Ferb finished.
"Nope. No one knows except me, you, Dr. Manson, and well you know," Gretchen responded.
Ferb nodded, "I think I can help you with your-"
Gretchen stifled a laugh and cut him off, "You are being the charmer."
"Haven't had the chance to be one the last few weeks," Ferb returned.
After coffee, Phineas and Adyson started get ready to go back to their respective homes and lives.
"I should be heading home now. It was great catching up with you Gretchen, we should do this more often. It was good to see you again Ferb. You too Phineas. Take care. Maybe we can all get together at some point and do a pot luck?" Adyson suggested.
"It was great seeing you too Adyson. I'll talk to Sienna about the pot luck and keep in touch," Phineas replied.
Ferb hugged Adyson, "Thank you for taking care of Gretchen. I owe you."
Adyson hugged him back, "You just take care of my friend. There's something going on, and she needs to work through it. Can you help her with that?"
Ferb gave a nod in response and Adyson left.
"Did she have" Phineas began to ask.
"Stitches in her arm? Yes. She unfortunately did that during a knife demonstration with the Fireside Girls," Gretchen supplied.
"That sounds painful," Phineas remarked with a wince.
"Which part?" Ferb asked.
"The accidentally cutting herself," Phineas answered.
"She didn't complain that it hurt, as a matter of fact she was joking about it," Gretchen commented.
"That does sound like Adyson," Phineas mused.
Ferb gave a nod.
Phineas turned to Gretchen, "Ferb mentioned that you're on stress leave from work."
"Yeah, but only for a few days," Gretchen confirmed.
"I think Sienna was going out to get her hair or nails done tomorrow, maybe you can join her," Phineas suggested.
"Thank you Phineas, but I think I'll just stay home tomorrow; after what happened today," Gretchen declined.
"Oh okay," Phineas responded.
Gretchen glanced at Ferb.
"I get off work early tomorrow," Ferb replied.
"But what about you leaving early today?" Gretchen asked.
"I ran in to your father on my way out," Ferb admitted.
Gretchen's eyes went wide.
"He asked me 'where's the fire' and I told him about yesterday," Ferb stated.
"What parts?" Gretchen asked, knowing how her father would react.
"That you pushed yourself too hard and passed out," Ferb answered.
"Here are your keys," Phineas said as he handed Gretchen her keys back, "Take care. It's not that I don't enjoy seeing you, I just..." he trailed off and hugged her.
"Thank you Phineas," Gretchen said.
"I'm now very worried about you sweetheart," Ferb said softly after Phineas left.
"I'm fine," Gretchen replied.
"You're pregnant. You're not eating and you're passing out," Ferb pointed out, concern in his voice.
"I could pick up some prenatals and a few other things," Gretchen suggested.
Ferb raised an eyebrow.
"You're not trusting me to drive right now, are you?" Gretchen asked.
Ferb shook his head.
"Are you comfortable with picking up everything if I made a list?" Gretchen inquired.
"Of course. I'll pick up anything you need," Ferb promised.
"I don't know, maybe I should come along with you," Gretchen said with a slight frown.
"If you wish," Ferb said.
"I'll come with," Gretchen decided.
Ferb raised an eyebrow again.
"It won't be as awkward for you," Gretchen assured him.
Ferb gave a nod, seeing her point.
"Have you ever had to anything this awkward before?" Gretchen asked.
Ferb nodded.
"Tell me?" Gretchen inquired.
"I had to get some "supplies" for Candace, as she called them. I also once, early in our relationship, bought some..." Ferb sheepishly admitted.
"You did?" Gretchen asked surprised.
Ferb nodded and Gretchen blushed.
"At least it wasn't as bad when I had to do it for Candace," Ferb said.
"How old were you?" Gretchen inquired.
"When I picked up for Candace I was 14. For myself," Ferb became embarrassed, "I was 17."
"But we didn't do anything until a few years later," Gretchen remarked.
"I know, I gave them to someone else who desperately needed them. Then picked up more just before we..." Ferb replied.
Gretchen kissed him to get him to stop talking.
Ferb broke the kiss and smirked, "Nice way of telling me to shut up."
Gretchen smirked at him, "We better get going, it's supposed to snow again tonight."
"Still can't figure out what's wrong with that snow blower," Ferb muttered, referring to the machine he used on the sidewalks.
"I'm sure you'll figure it out soon," Gretchen reassured him.
After a successful trip to the store, Gretchen was putting away the vitamins and prenatals in the bathroom cabinet. Ferb decided to ask something that had been bugging him.
"Gretchen, can I ask you something?" he asked.
"Sure," she responded.
"How dangerous is it for a pregnant woman to not eat?" Ferb inquired.
"Well, it could be very dangerous. However the woman's body will reject what it doesn't need or want," Gretchen replied.
Ferb's eyes went wide, "You mean your body could-"
"Well," Gretchen hesitated.
"Gretchen..." Ferb said seriously.
"I don't think we need to worry about that," Gretchen replied.
"Are you sure?" Ferb asked.
"Well, in that regard I feel fine," Gretchen said, resting a hand on her abdomen.
"You've just got morning sickness?" Ferb inquired.
"Not really. I'm seldom actually sick-sick. I just get really light headed and nauseous," Gretchen returned.
Ferb raised an eyebrow.
"I assure you, everything is fine," Gretchen said.
"You're sure?" Ferb asked.
Gretchen stood on her tip toes and gave him a quick kiss, "Yes."
Ferb wrapped his arms around her, "I'm going to do everything in my power to make sure you remain stress-free."
Gretchen hugged him.
The night was uneventful and in the morning Ferb got ready for work.
Gretchen was lying in bed when she noticed Ferb wasn't next to her, "Ferb?" She opened her eyes and looked around, "Ferb?"
Ferb walked into bedroom, coffee in one hand, shirt in another.
"Ferb? What are you doing?" Gretchen asked, blinking.
Ferb put his coffee on the bureau, and sat on bed, then said gently, "I have to go to work love. Remember?"
Gretchen went quiet for a minute before nodding.
"I get off at two, and given the road conditions, I'll be home around three," Ferb told her.
Gretchen nodded again.
Ferb pulled on his shirt, "Will you be okay?"
"I'll be fine," Gretchen said softly.
Ferb cupped her chin in his hand and kissed her lightly.
A tear slid down Gretchen's cheek.
Ferb kissed the tear away, "Please don't cry. I'll call you on my break."
Gretchen gave a nod.
"Do you want me to bring you a plate of toast?" Ferb offered.
Gretchen whimpered, "No, it's okay. I'll figure it out."
"Are you sure?" Ferb asked gently.
Gretchen nodded.
"I will also call you when I get off of work," Ferb said.
"Drive safe, I love you," Gretchen said.
"I love you too," Ferb returned softly.
Ferb left for work. Gretchen eventually got up and had a shower then went downstairs. She fixed herself something to eat. Eventually Gretchen became bored out of her skull.
"I guess I could clean up and get some reading done, Gretchen muttered to herself.
The phone rang and Gretchen picked it up.
"Hello?" she listened for a moment, "Whoa what's the issue Izz?" she winced and pulled the phone away from her ear then switched sides, "Isabella you need to calm down," she listened for a moment, "Meet somewhere?" she asked then sighed, "It would be easier, and I can keep my hearing intact," She paused once more as Isabella replied, "All right, I'll see you there and don't speed."
Gretchen got ready, then put her coat on and grabbed her purse & car keys. She drove to the restaurant, a different one from the day before.
"Table for two," Gretchen said to the host.
Gretchen was seated, and waited a few minutes before Isabella showed up.
"Hey Gretchen," Isabella greeted as she took off her scarf.
"Hello Isabella...So what's all this with Dominic?" Gretchen returned the greeting.
"He asked me if I wanted to move in with him," Isabella blurted.
"And that's a problem because?" Gretchen asked.
Isabella reddened, "I want to, but at the same time I don't."
"What does your heart want?" Gretchen asked.
"My heart wants to be with him," Isabella admitted.
"Okay, then move in with him," Gretchen encouraged.
"My mother will kill me," Isabella stated.
Gretchen rubbed her eyes, "Then don't move in with him."
"But I love him," Isabella protested.
"Isabella! You are almost twenty-five years old! You can't let fear dictate your life," Gretchen returned, nearly biting her best friend's head off.
"The last time-" Isabella began quietly.
"Last time you were fifteen, and had someone who didn't truly love you," Gretchen cut her off.
"But he," Isabella started.
"Isabella, be honest with me here. Did you enjoy being with him?" Gretchen asked.
"Evan was always pushy about things. He'd get mad if I talked to any of our guy friends," Isabella admitted.
"Isabella, did you consent to...having relations with Evan?" Gretchen inquired.
Isabella nodded, "I would have let Phineas but he would go all red and quickly change the subject."
"What would you say if our roles were reversed?" Gretchen asked.
"I don't know," Isabella said.
"Isabella, you've got to help me. I love Ferb so much but I don't know if I should move in with him," Gretchen replied.
"You're married to him," Isabella pointed out.
Gretchen facepalmed, "Let's face this as a hypothetical situation."
"All right... All right," Isabella relented.
"Now what would your advice be?" Gretchen asked.
"Follow your heart," Isabella stated.
Gretchen smirked slightly, "There's your answer."
"What do you mean?" Isabella asked.
"What is your heart telling you?" Gretchen inquired.
"That I love him and should trust him," Isabella nodded slightly, "I will move in with him."
"That wasn't so difficult, was it?" Gretchen asked.
"My mother's still going to kill me," Isabella muttered.
"Maybe not," Gretchen returned.
Isabella cocked her head to the side, "What's that supposed to mean?"
"You've met my father," Gretchen said simply.
"What did your father-" Isabella started to asked.
"Don't get me wrong, my father likes Ferb, it's just that, his unmarried daughter moving into an apartment with her boyfriend," Gretchen interrupted.
Isabella went wide eyed, "Oh."
"We had to assure him nothing was going on...we invited my parents over to see our living arrangements. So my father wouldn't be so..." Gretchen trailed off trying to find the right word.
"Overbearing?" Isabella asked.
"I was nineteen-years-old, legally I could make my own decisions. It was more so my father wouldn't be so disapproving," Gretchen replied.
"I see. But you and Ferb were dating," Isabella pointed out.
"We were engaged," Gretchen corrected.
"Really?" Isabella asked.
"That's why the wedding was a matter of months later," Gretchen stated.
"Oh that explains a lot," Isabella said.
Gretchen raised an eyebrow.
"Are you aware that Adyson got a divorce after two years?" Isabella inquired.
Gretchen nodded, "She told me herself. I stitched her arm up."
"What about Kat-" Isabella started.
Gretchen cut her off with a tight, "Yes, I am aware."
"Are you going?" Isabella asked.
Gretchen became upset, "No. She invited me yesterday. When I mentioned that I would prefer to have a formal invitation for Ferb and myself she said she only had one person who couldn't make it."
"You weren't invited?" Isabella asked, surprised.
"It's for the best," Gretchen replied as she dabbed her eyes with a serviette.
"I could talk to-" Isabella started to offer.
"No!" Gretchen snapped, much harsher than she intended.
Isabella looked at her.
"Sorry, but no," Gretchen amended as she shredded a serviette.
"She didn't go to yours...She never told me why," Isabella remarked.
Gretchen became more upset and started getting agitated, "She claims that I changed when I started dating Ferb."
"I think everyone changes when they start dating someone," Isabella mused aloud.
Gretchen shrugged, "She said that at the time she didn't like Ferb and that's why she didn't come to my wedding."
"I didn't think anyone could not like Ferb," Isabella remarked.
Gretchen gave a harsh laugh, "That's what Adyson said."
"Did Katie say why she didn't like Ferb?" Isabella asked.
Gretchen shredded a few more serviettes, "She claimed that he 'took me away'."
"What is that supposed to mean?" Isabella asked.
"That I wasn't there for the troop and that I never did anything without checking with him," Gretchen explained.
"Ferb had a heart attack. You were making sure he was okay," Isabella responded.
"That wasn't common knowledge. You knew and Ginger knew. Phineas obviously knew but no one else did," Gretchen returned then started to breath heavily and her eyes darted rapidly around room.
"Gretchen, are you okay?" Isabella asked.
"Fine, just fine. I just need to-" Gretchen stopped as her eyes rolled to back of her head and she slumped in her chair.
"Gretchen!" Isabella yelped as her eyes went wide.
Another patron asked, "Is she okay?"
Isabella got up and patted Gretchen's face gently, "Come on Gretch."
"Should I call an ambulance?" the patron asked.
Isabella shook her head, "I don't think that's necessary."
There was general commotion from the other patrons in the restaurant.
Isabella pulled out her phone, and called Ferb's cell, then muttered, "Come on Gretchen, wake up."
Ferb answered the call.
"Ferb, I'm out with Gretchen," Isabella said then pulled the phone away from her ear as he started yelling.
Ferb said something, in an accusatory tone.
"I didn't-" Isabella tried before getting cut off again.
Gretchen stirred slightly.
"I think she's waking up," Isabella said.
Gretchen opened her eyes then muttered something under her breath.
"Gretchen, are you okay?" Isabella asked.
"What happened?" Gretchen mumbled.
"You passed out," Isabella responded quietly.
Gretchen looked worried, and pleaded with tears in her eyes, "Don't tell Ferb."
Isabella handed the phone over, and mouthed 'sorry.'
Gretchen inhaled deeply before putting the phone to her ear, "Ferb, you need to calm down or your heart-" She stopped and listened for a few minutes as Ferb cut her off.
Isabella gave her an apologetic look.
"I worked my self up," Gretchen listened for a moment then her tone became sharp, "That is NOT needed!" She listened again, then switched to German, "Ferb I'm sorry," She paused as he spoke, "No stay at work," Gretchen listened then sighed, "I will stay home tomorrow if you insist," She switched back to English, "Yes," a pause, "I'm fine," She listened for a moment, "Love you too," a final pause, "uh-huh, bye," she said then disconnected the call.
"I'm SO sorry, I didn't realize he was going to get that angry," Isabella apologized.
"I got him to calm down...can we just eat now?" Gretchen returned, biting down on her irritation with herself.
Isabella blinked in response.
Gretchen dabbed her eyes and shredded a few more serviettes, "I just..."
"What's wrong?" Isabella inquired.
"I'm on stress leave from work. I told Ferb I'd stay home today after what happened yesterday," Gretchen replied.
"So, he's angry," Isabella remarked.
"Upset is more like it," Gretchen corrected.
"What wasn't needed?" Isabella asked.
Gretchen shook her head, "Nothing."
"Why did you agree to come out then?" Isabella inquired.
Gretchen started to sob then as an ambulance arrived, with its lights flashing. Two Paramedics jumped out of the back. One came towards the restaurant while the other started to pull out a gurney.
"Uh-oh," Isabella muttered.
Gretchen looked out window, "Oh no. No. NO. NO!"
"Who called the ambulance?" Isabella nearly snarled.
Gretchen groaned and put her head on the table, "They are going to insist..." then she muttered a few things in German.
"What happened?" the Paramedic asked, setting his kit down.
Another patron of the restaurant pointed to Gretchen, "She passed out."
Gretchen started to get worked up again.
"I'm sorry for wasting your time, but my friend's doing much better now," Isabella apologized to the Paramedic.
The Paramedic looked at Gretchen, "Are you sure you're fine?"
Gretchen nodded and sobbed, "I'm fine, I don't want to go. I'm fine, don't tell him."
"Gretchen, calm down," Isabella advised her friend.
"Ma'am, are you sure you are going to be fine?" the paramedic asked.
Gretchen nodded.
"I've seen you somewhere before. But not on a call," the paramedic mused.
"Come on Gretch, you need to calm down," Isabella quietly pleaded with her younger friend.
The paramedic snapped his fingers, "The Hospital, you're one of the nurses there."
"I assure you, I'm fine," Gretchen fired at him.
"When was the last time you ate?" the Paramedic asked.
"What does that have to do with anything?" Gretchen snapped at the poor man.
"I'm just doing my job, please answer the question," the Paramedic replied with a near sigh.
"I'm within my rights to NOT answer your-" Gretchen practically snarled before her eyes fluttered back as she blacked out.
The Paramedic caught her as she fell out of her chair.
Isabella went wide eyed, "You're gonna take her, aren't you?"
"I'm going to have to," he replied before speaking into his radio.
"Ferb isn't going to like this," Isabella muttered.
"Ferb doesn't have any say in the matter," The Paramedic remarked as he placed Gretchen onto a gurney.
Isabella stood beside her a moment and sobbed as she moved a piece of hair out of her face, "I'm so sorry. I'll call Ferb for you," She pulled out her phone and sobbed out an apology and a plea, "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. Don't be mad at her. Please don't be angry. It's my fault, I wanted to go out."
A short while later Gretchen's eyes fluttered open to an all too familiar sight.
Jennifer noticed this and said, "Shane, She's awake."
Gretchen groaned and covered her face.
"Aren't you supposed to be taking it easy Starshine?" Shane inquired.
"I just got worked up," Gretchen defended.
Shane folded his arms across his chest, and gave her an unamused look.
"I need to get home," Gretchen stated, starting to get out of the bed.
"Just a moment darling, you're here as a patient and I just can't have you going AWOL on me," Shane protested as Jennifer pushed her back into the bed.
"I need to get home before Ferb," Gretchen was cut off when a familiar shock of green hair appeared in the doorway.
"Before Ferb what?" Ferb thundered, hearing that last part.